Introductory Post

Christian Community Theology Study

A Theology Study for the Evangelical Congregational Church Fellowship Style

Accentuating the Congregational Church model of Christian fellowship equality, the individual believers (royal) priesthood, individual righteousness and holiness maturity, the current Kingdom of Jesus Christ and His Millennial Age Reign to come and the present Age of Christian Responsibilities.

Introduction to Theology

Theology is like piecing together a puzzle. Individual Theology pieces fit together and the picture begins to emerge. The picture Theology displays is the image of Jesus Christ!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him (Jesus Christ); and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. ~ John 1:1-4

First Use:Genesis 48:5-6 And now thy (Joseph's) two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I (Jacob) came unto thee into Egypt, are mine (adoption); as Reuben and Simeon (existing sons), they shall be mine. And the children, which thou begettest after them, shall be yours and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits ['Born Again'] of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, _waiting for the adoption_, to know, the redemption of our body. ~ Romans 8:23

Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; ~ Romans 9:4

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the Adoption of Sons. ~ Galatians 4:5

Having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ~ Ephesians 1:5

Adoption Biblically is slightly different than what we think of as adoption. For instance a stranger is not adopted into the family of God, like the concept we have of adoption where a non-family member becomes a family member through adoption. The Biblical concept of adoption is confirmation of adulthood of an existing family member and with adulthood comes privileges and inheritance. In the Bible Jacob actually adopted his two grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob did not need to adopt them to make them family but he did need to adopt them to give them an inheritance in the promise land. Indeed Ephraim and Manasseh did receive inheritances in the promise land just like their uncles did, because they were adopted as sons and received the same inheritance as their uncles the sons of Jacob.

We are born into the family of God, through faith in the resurrection of Jesus in the new covenant. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and told him that he must be “Born Again” in order to see the kingdom of God, [in Jesus the kingdom of God is now available] the First step to becoming a member in the family of God is to be born into the family as a child of God and that is done by the person accepting the covenant of God that we are His creation separated by our sin and that He loves us and died for our sins on the cross and then He resurrected from death to reconcile us to Him in His resurrection life. When we accept the “New Covenant” we are now in a correct relationship with God, we acknowledge that God exists and that we desire to have a relationship with Him. We have asked for forgiveness of our sins, we are now cleansed from our sin, we are now clean and God in Spirit has come inside of us giving us a new life in Him, our new birth into His family as a child of God.

Once we are a “born again” child of God we are then predestined (appointed outcome) to the adoption. The actual adoption takes place later, when we physically die and our spirit and soul enter the visible presence of God where we are then adopted as sons of God and being sons of God we then receive an inheritance in heaven (visible presence of God).

Angels

Angels, Spirit beings: See also Mankind

Aggelos (G32) messenger, to bring tidings, the intermediary between the sender and the receiver of a message

First Use:First Use: Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God [angels] saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Angel means messenger, angels are God's messengers, His assistants. Angels do not deliver their own message but
they speak and assist when they are directed First from God. Angels are spirit beings, who are created by God for
companionship with God. The spirit realm is the permanent realm and angels as spirit beings have an everlasting
existence. Angels are “sons of God” this means three things; First they are each a unique creation of God. Angels
do not marry and have babies like humans do. God individually creates each angel. Second, being sons [family
members] they are in the visible presence of God. Third, being sons they have received an inheritance with
God.

Holy Angels: Note: Only holy (God's) people have holy (God's) angels.
The holy angels are God's messengers sent to help and assist believing humans.

Are they (holy angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them (people) who shall be heirs (inheritors) of salvation. ~ Hebrews 1:14

The fact that there are angels is another way to prove that God exists. Angels
are the messengers, having a messenger requires a sender and a receiver of the message. God is the sender of the
messenger and we are the receiver of God's message.

A lot of people in today's society will acknowledge the presence of angels and they are correct, angels do
exist as the Bible tells us that they do; to acknowledge angels requires us to acknowledge the sender of the
angel, God. True there are also plenty of unholy angels around, so it is very important to test every single
message and make certain that it comes from holy angels and matches the Holy Bible. Some people may indeed have an
angel communicating with them but it is in no means a holy angel of God if the message communicated does not match
the Bible.

Revelation 19:10 And I (disciple John) fell at his feet (holy angel) to worship him. And he
said to me, See you do it not: I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Fallen Angels: unholy angels

For verily He (Jesus) took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham {became a human, not an angel}.. to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ~ Hebrews 2:16-17

Fallen angels are not eligible for redemption like fallen humans are. The reason is that because of the status of angels
from which they chose to rebel. It was in the presence of God, in their inherited body and from their inheritance
that some angels chose to rebel from and became fallen angels. There is not another inheritance or body for the
fallen angels; nor can they remain forever in the visible presence of God because of their sin.

Then shall He (God) say to them (unbelievers) on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels: ~ Matthew 25:41

And the angels which kept not their First estate, but left their own habitation (God given spiritual body), He hath reserved in everlasting chains {the more wicked fallen angels are chained}
under darkness (out of the visible presence of God) unto the judgment of the great day. ~ Jude ver. 6

And having made peace through the blood of His (Jesus) cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things {humans} in earth or things {holy angels} in heaven. ~ Colossians 1:20

Angels in the past have rebelled against God. This verse indicates that since the cross of Jesus there will be no more new additional angels rebelling against God. But the angels that have rebelled against God will continue to rebel against God.

Anthropic Principal

Anthropic Principal - Intelligent Design - Creation

First Use:In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. ~ Exodus 20:11

For by Him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: ~ Colossians 1:16

You (Jesus Christ) are Worthy, O Lord, to receive Glory and Honor and Power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created. ~ Revelation 4:11

Anthropic principal is a scientific principal that the universe exists in a well thought out and precisely created plan, specifically to sustain human life. For instance, the fact hat if the earth were 1% closer to the sun the earth would heat up, bubble and boil and would not sustain human life. Likewise if the earth were 1% farther from the sun it would be too cold and would not sustain human lif. There are thousands of factors that are precision tuned in our universe to sustain human life here on earth. Correct gravity ratio, oxygen content, mineral content, water to land ratio etc… The fact that water, when it reezes into ice expands and remains on top instead of contracting like most other materials, therefore ice remains on top of water instead of collapsing down and killing the aquatic life. Water freezing and expanding, becoming ice, is a design to facilitate aquatic and human life. It is a design from God not a circumstance from chance or fate of evolution.

We do not have epidemics of germs and viruses that could easily wipe out all human life; instead we have the opposite of a random system we exist in a designed system of controls, checks and balances. The smaller food for larger animals reproduces more frequently and more abundantly keeping a constant food supply available for the larger animals. This Anthropic design is evident in every element of existence, completely eliminating chance or random evolution.

How could a male and female evolve separately and still be compatible to create offspring? How can the more complicated eye and brain develop prior to wings, beaks and claws? Insteadit all had to come together at the same time, this is creation.

Some people say, well the universe could be random, it could be chance, it could be evolution, but it is not! So to deal with the environment that we currently exist in, we have to deal with reality. Reality is that we exist in a complex delicate environment, one that testifies of an intelligent creator, God, and one that also testifies of sin and of man's disobedience to God.

First Use:Genesis 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this (deceived the woman), thou are cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Christ - Jesus); it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan's) head (skull), [this occurred at the cross of Jesus].

And He (Jesus Christ) bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha (or Calvary in Roman Latin): ~ John 19:17

This among other things, happened to Jesus on the cross where His heel was nailed against the cross and was badly bruised as He supported His body on the heel of His foot. This is a prophesied injury that could not have occurred by stoning or any other means of death. Jesus bruised His heel in order to heal us.

Anti means instead of, the instead of Christ. It is like asking for water and instead getting poison. The poison may look and smell like water but it is not water and will not refresh or sustain life instead it will poison and take life. The antichrist is the same way; he is “instead” of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the real Savior that is why He became a man to save us from our sins. We are already saved completely (immediately when we confess a personal belief in Jesus Christ); we have no further need for another savior. The One we have, Jesus, is sufficient. The coming one is not a savior he is a deceiver, a counterfeit, a phony, a liar and all who follow his poisonous lies will be led into death with him who opposes the real and living God.

Actually anyone who denies Jesus is making them self an antichrist. People who deny their own personal sin and need for a personal savior have made themselves their own savior and are their own Christ and have become their own “instead of” (Anti)Christ.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists (self-saviors); whereby we know that it is the last time. ~ 1 John 2:18

Atonement

Atonement an ordained High Priest offering given for mankind and accepted by God

First Use:Exodus 29:33 And they shall eat those things wherewith atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.

Atonement is an offering given by the offending party to the offended party. Offences separate and sever
relationships. When the relationship is severed it requires a mending in order to repair and re-establish the
broken relationship. The means to mend the broken relationship is called the atonement. Man has offended God.
After all, all God did was to create us, give us life, bring us into existence and love us. All man does is to
disobey and turn our backs and walk away from God. With this behavior it is necessary that the broken relationship
between God and man be mended. In this case man is so separated from the knowledge of who God is that mankind is
not even aware that we have so offended God and that the relationship is broken and needs to be repaired.

When two parties are no longer communicating there is need for a third party to intercede. This third party is
called the “mediator”. In this case, it is man that is not talking to or seeking after God, so God sent Jesus as a
mediator to get the attention of mankind and to tell mankind that we have broken the relationship with God {it is
not uncommon for the offending party to be so clueless that they are completely unaware of their offending
behavior}. Jesus has done much of this mediation by speaking to prophets and having the Bible written. The
relationship is so broken that many people even deny the existence of God. The most shattered a relationship can
become is to deny the existence of the other person. Jesus is mediating/talking to us on behalf of God, because
Jesus is God and therefore He is capable of talking for God and representing God.

When the broken relationship is identified as broken, it is then possible to determine a remedy (atonement). It
is up to the offended party to declare what is suitable to repair the relationship and it is up to the offending
party to desire to remedy the relationship otherwise the relationship will remain broken.

God being the offended one has declared that a relationship in the current sinful physical state of man is not
acceptable. God has determined that to repair the relationship it will be necessary to have a new birth, a new
Spiritual Born Again birth. Now it would normally be up to the offending party to meet the needs of the offended
one therefore restoring the relationship. In this case, man is not able to repair the breach, the brokenness is
too broken for us to repair. In this case God, has sent Himself to repair (atone) the separation on man's
behalf.

The atonement is what the offending party is offering to the offended party. God has a special category of
people that make offerings to Him. This group of people is called priests. A priest offers to God on behalf of
man, where a prophet receives from God and offers it to man. Because God is not upset with Himself and God is not
in a broken relationship with Himself, God has no need to make atonement with Himself. For this reason God had to
become a man. God had to become a man and serve as a priest to offer atonement (repair) for the broken
relationship between man and God.

And he (Priest) shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering {an earthly priest First had to sacrifice for their own sin then they could offer atonement}, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make Atonement for them (people) and it shall be forgiven them. ~ Leviticus 4:20

For such a High Priest (Jesus) became us {we have}, Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth
not daily as those (earthly) high priests, to offer up sacrifice, First for their own sins and then for the people's: for this (offered for man's sins) He did once when He offered up Himself. ~ Hebrews 7:26-27

Jesus is unique in that He is both the Priest (man offering to God) and the offering.

After the offending party offers the repair (atonement) it is up to the offended party to determine if the
offering is acceptable and if acceptable, therefore repairing and restoring the relationship. We know beyond any
doubt that Jesus and what Jesus did as a Priest in offering atonement to God is acceptable to God and has repaired

the relationship between man and God. The reason that we know this is that God resurrected Jesus from death and
gave Him a new Spiritual body.

Concerning His (Father's) Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. ~ Romans 1:3

It is the resurrection of Jesus that shows us that Jesus is the Son of God.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (repair). ~ Romans 5:11

The atonement between man and God is complete and completed; there is no current or future work of atonement. We have received the work that Jesus as our High Priest did for us on the cross. The relationship between man and God is open and available. The atonement is a sacrifice that is offered from a priest to God. We do not receive atonement from God. God is not offering to us because He has not offended us. Now that the relationship between God and man has been atoned (repaired) it is now the responsibility of each individual person to take advantage of the repaired relationship and to have fellowship with God.

Awake

Awake see also Sleep

First Use:Genesis 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

Awake is a word in the Bible that has two meanings. The physical meaning to awake from physical sleep and also
awareness - awake. Awake is to be aware, aware of God and His plan for mankind; aware of man's sinful predicament
and aware of what God is doing in our lives and the lives of others to fulfill His plans.

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ~ Romans 13:11

Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:34

One note of caution: Becoming aware or awakening especially to problems, sin and end time predicaments,
unfortunately does not mean that we can do much about them. Sin is an interesting situation in that while we are
in sin and in danger of the death that will result from it, we are in denial and unaware of sin, so sin is not a
problem to us even though it is our biggest problem. Once we have our conversion and awake to our sin and the sin
of others, we now become aware of sin and instead of treating sin like the non-event it is to a Christian, now we
sometimes obsess with sin, our sin and the sin of others.

God is patient and God is longsuffering. God has allowed mankind much freedom to come to the knowledge of Him.
God has an end time plan that does involve the antichrist, it is God's perfect plan and God is going to allow it
to unfold and take place. Yes we are to be awake. Yes we are to pray and to be salt and light in a dark world but
we are not to worry and take things on ourselves that we have no control over. So be awake but more importantly be
at rest in the Lord Jesus and let Him take care of His world.

First Use:Exodus 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou (Moses) shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and shalt wash (baptize) them with water.

The word Baptize is a very loaded word and has a couple of definite significant meanings. First it means to take on the appearance of something else by dipping, for instance a piece of red cloth that is then dipped (baptized) in white dye, the cloth then becomes white. This is like us being baptized into Christ Jesus we take on the appearance of Jesus. We take on the appearance or characteristics of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, characteristics of love, patience, kindness etc. We do not however become gods; we remain humans, but humans with a new outlook and new relationship with God.

Also baptism is associated with death by drowning if a person were to drown in water it would be said that they were baptized, they were dipped and they became one with the water. The image to the Christian is one that the Christian has had a conversion the Christian now recognizes the kingdom of God and has chosen to live in God's heavenly kingdom while choosing to die to self and the worldly system. Signifying this decision the Christian is baptized in water signifying dead to this world and alive to Jesus, also signifying a washing and cleansing renewal in the new sinless life with God.

Baptism Water:
Water is an element in cleansing and washing. The Levitical priests at the age of 30 were publicly washed with water signifying their cleanliness and start of priestly duties. Likewise when one becomes a Christian we become clean and a part of Jesus' priestly kingdom. We as Christians are also each a priest that means that we can each approach God. In approaching God we offer our own individual offerings to God, including prayers and fruits of praise and thanksgiving to God.

The water baptism is significant to the converted believer; the washing in water is also a symbol to the spirit realm that the baptized person is cleansed and now in the kingdom of God. Evil spirits and demons lose the bondage they once had on a person. The demons can no longer go to the believer, at the desire of the demons. Unfortunately though the believer can still go to or invite the demons into their life and there will also always be periods of testing and sifting, that include demonic attacks. But a baptized Christian is now in a new relationship with God, a relationship that includes support, protection and guidance. Water baptism is a commandment from Jesus and is something every obedient Christian has to take part in.

Baptism Fire:
Fire is also a cleansing element. Fire cleanses items from corruption and disease. Fire also strengthens items, clay jars are stronger and more reliable and more useful after they have been in fire. The baptism of fire also helps us becoming more like and more identifying with Jesus. The fire in the life of the Christian is the fire of trials and testing. The important thing about this fire is that it is God's fire. God controls the circumstances in the believer's life. He turns up the heat to refine us by taking out the impurities in our life. We lack compassion so God allows circumstances in our life, in order to give us a heart of compassion like His heart. Trials and fire create in us compassion and mercy, eyes to notice the hurting and suffering that is going on around us and a heart to desire to change it. The fire also strengthens us; it gives us hope and a clearer picture of who God is and how powerful He is. As the fire of circumstances burns in our life we become stronger knowing from past experience that God is in control, this gives us patience and the ability to reach out and help others.

Baptism: Holy Spirit
Another Baptism where we become more identified with Jesus is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that when He left, He would not leave us as orphans but that He would send the Comforter the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our comforting friend He teaches us right from wrong He guides and directs us, He gives the Bible meaning to us and He teaches us to pray to the Father.

The interesting thing about Christianity that separates Christianity from all of the worlds religions and makes Christianity not a religion but a relationship, is that God has come to us. All of the world's religions focus on man and man's shortcomings. The Christian relationship with God focuses on God coming to man. The way of Christianity is that God meets us where we are, He leads, He guides and He instructs us into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Himself. Religion has man guessing and attempting to get man's act together in the hopes that some god will approve and then reward man with something like money or fame. In the real relationship with God, God says He knows that we make mistakes. He knows all of our thoughts, our hopes, our fears and our anger. But He says that He is bigger than any of that. When we look to God we replace our fears, our anger with His love, His compassion and His mercy. When we replace what we have with what God has for us, we are being baptized.

Bible

First Use:Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him (Adam);

And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. _All Scripture_ is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ~ 1 Timothy 3:15-17

The Bible is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to the world and to have His words preserved through the generations. The Bible is unique and unlike any other book ever written. The Bible is tangible proof that God exists. Approximately 40 separate authors wrote the Bible during a several thousand-year time frame. The Bible is one complete book it has a beginning in Genesis (Beginning) it has continuity from Adam and Eve to Jesus and the Bible has an ending, the book of Revelation (make known). There is no supplement or addition needed for the Bible.

The Bible is complete; it covers the creation of the universe and all time, up to and including the future and Jesus' eternal everlasting kingdom. Most of the Bible at the time that each verse was written, it was written as prophesy. In the Bible the events were described in the Bible before the event actually happened. This prophetic writing of the Bible could only happen with knowledge of the future, knowledge man does not have, knowledge God does have.

The Bible thoroughly reveals to man who God is, His nature and His plan for mankind. The Bible is without self-controversy and without self-contradiction and the Bible is without error. Over the thousands of years of the Bible's existence, the Bible has one clear message and one clear meaning; the predicament of mankind in sin and death and the remedy of the love and forgiveness of God.

The Old Testament of the Bible was written by Jews in the Jewish language of Hebrew during the years 2,600 B. C. To 400 B.C (approximately). The Old Testament tells of God, man and the coming Messiah, Jesus. The New Testament was written by Jews in the international language of the day, which was the Greek language. The New Testament was entirely written in the lifetime of the disciples of Jesus, with writing being completed in the time frame of approximately 40 A.D. to 90 A.D… The night that Mary gave birth to Jesus in the manger is the year 1 A.D. and Jesus lived on the earth as a human for 33 1/2 years, being crucified at the age of 33, which would be around the year 34 A.D. Then Matthew, who personally spent 3 1/2 years as a Disciple of Jesus, wrote the Gospel of Matthew, followed by the 26 additional writings by a total of eight different authors completing the New Testament around the year 90 A.D. The Apostle Paul himself wrote 14 epistles (letters) comprising half of the New Testament's 27 books. The First book is thought to be the Gospel of Matthew written by the disciple Matthew around 40 A.D… The last book written is thought to be the Book of Revelation, written by the Disciple John approximately 90 A.D.

And if any man shall take away from the Words of the Book (Bible) of this Prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this Book (Bible). ~ Revelation 22:19

First Use:Genesis 1:22 And God blessed them (His created creatures), saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Unto you First God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him (Jesus) to Bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. ~ Acts 3:26

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ~ Ephesians 1:3

Blessing is a good word from God. Blessing means happy. It is a blessing to do the good things that God has prescribed for us. We often think of a blessing as a worldly gift like money, or opportunity. A blessing is a word from God; a blessing is more knowledge of God. Blessings can come from both bad and good sources. We can be
blessed, good word from God, in any circumstance that we are in. Someone [hopefully a non-Christian] can come up
to us and cause all kinds of problems for us and this can be a blessing. It can be a blessing because God can
still use bad circumstances to reveal Himself to us. Anytime God reveals Himself to us in a personal relationship, it is a blessing. These are often trying blessings but they are still blessings. Theses are blessings out of difficulties.

Another kind of blessing is a good blessing. Someone [hopefully a Christian] can come up to us and have
terrific interaction with us. They can speak to us and give us hope and joy directly from God, they might even
give us a gift to solve a need that we have. This is also a blessing and God uses good blessings to reveal Himself to us as well. This is the kind of blessing that the Christian wants to be. We want to be a blessing to others in blessing them.

And I (God) will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and though shalt be a blessing. ~ Genesis 12:2

Blessings are a cornerstone to the ministry of Jesus as Jesus taught blessings.

And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when He was set,
His disciples came unto Him: and He opened His mouth and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you. ~ Matthew 5:1-12

Blessings, good words of God's instruction, are given by God throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them … ~ Genesis 1:27-28

Blessed are they that do His [Royal Law] commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the gates into the (heavenly) city. ~ Revelation 22:14

Body - Physical

Body, Flesh see also Spirit and Soul

Soma (G4983) body, visible expression, functioning unit
Verses - Matthew 26:26; John 2:21; Romans 8:10-13; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 2 Corinthians 4:10; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 1:24
First Use:Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man (body) of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul).

I [Apostle Paul] plead to you therefore, brethren [Christians], by the mercies of God, that all of you present your bodies a living [Melchizedek] sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [fellowship with God] service. And be not conformed to this world: but be all of you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that all of you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ~ Romans 12:1-2

Wherefore when He [Messiah - Christ] comes into the world, He says, [Levitical] Sacrifice and offering You [Father God] would not [desire], but a [human - relationship] body have You [Holy Spirit] prepared Me [Jesus Christ]: ~ Hebrews 10:5

Body is one of the three components that make up, the human being. The other two components are a soul
(awareness) and a spirit (everlasting life). The physical body is the abode/dwelling for our spirit and soul. The
physical body has the important job of visible interaction in our physical world. We might be very happy and
pleased with someone, but they would never know it unless we bodily vocalized our vocal chords and spoke, or
gestured in an understood pleasing way. If we wrote a note or smiled, hugged and greeted someone warmly, they
would presume that we are conveying to them our emotions of joy toward them.

Without the physical bodily ability to express our soul we would not have interaction with other people. Our
body exits to function in a physical world and to express our soul. If we damage our body and physically it can no
longer represent our soul we then suffer death and the spirit and soul separate from the body and go into the
presence of God. God and only God has complete control over our spirit. Our spirit and soul remain in our body at
the direction of God and according to God's knowledge and in God's time we suffer physical death. Only Jesus on
the cross was able to direct His Spirit into the presence of God. God commands our spirit to remain in our body;
at God's direction our spirit and soul separate from our body and at Gods direction the spirit and soul either
remain in heaven or are imprisoned in hell. According to the Bible there is absolutely no such thing as human
ghosts. The ghosts that we deal with are demon spirits masquerading as human ghosts. But there are absolutely no
human spirits wandering the earth.

Part of what the earthly physical body has to represent is sin and the fallen nature of man. So our bodies
carry in them the penalty of sin. We suffer pain, sickness and eventually death. One of the surest ways to know
that mankind is suffering from sin is to look at our physical bodies and to realize that our existence in this
body is temporary. Nothing on the earth is more temporary than our bodies. There are many forms of disease and
types of physical disabilities; none of these physical conditions hinders a person's relationship with God. No
physical condition represents our spiritual condition. People look and feel great as they use their healthy
energetic bodies to sin against God and people in all sorts of ailments glorify God.

God is worshiped in spirit; we can be in any physical predicament and still have fellowship and communion with
God. We do nothing for God in the physical realm, unless it is being done with our hearts. Again our bodies
represent our souls so when we do something physical like sing, pray, preach, it is the expression of our soul.
God actually looks at our heart (soul) and hears us pray from our soul. It is with our internal beliefs that we
have a relationship with God. Our physical bodies communicate our internal beliefs.

Born Again

Born Again see also Child of God, Adoption, Sons of God

Gennao (G1080) from Genos “kind”; reproduce in same kind, regenerate, give birth \\Anothen (G509) Ano “above”; above, anew, again; “Born from Above”
Verses - Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 37:26; John 3:3-4; Galatians 4:29; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9 4:7
First Use OT:Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. {Born the First time}
Fulfilled NT:John 20:22 And when He (Jesus) had said this, He breathed on them (disciples) and saith unto them, Receive you the Holy Spirit. {Born Again, Born from Above}

Born again or “Born from Above” is an actual Spiritual event/occurrence. Jesus is literally breathing His
Spirit of God into us, giving us new Spiritual life. The First people in the Bible to become Born Again were the
people gathered together in the upper room on the day of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. We celebrate this day
and call it Easter, but the appropriate name for the celebration is “Resurrection Sunday”. On Resurrection Sunday,
Jesus breathed/baptized the believing disciples making them “Born Again” new Spiritual creations and now Spiritual
children of God.

Then the same (Resurrection) day at evening, being the First day (Sunday) of the week.. came Jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them (disciples), Peace be unto you… He
(Jesus) breathed on them and saith unto them, Receive (by faith in the Resurrection of Jesus) you the Holy Spirit (become a Christian): ~ John 20:19-23

I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance (attitude change): but He (Jesus) that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
He (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: ~ Matthew 3:11

In Israel when the person who was to redeem a close relative refused to redeem that person, they signified their lack of desire to redeem by removing
their shoe. John is saying that Jesus is mightier, that Jesus is the redeemer. John does not want to interfere
(remove Jesus' shoe) with the redemptive work Jesus came to do. Deuteronomy 25:7-9, Ruth 4:7-8. Also, only a close
relative can be the redeemer. This is part of the Virgin birth of Jesus; if Jesus had an earthly father He would
only be a close redeeming relative to a few people. Because Jesus is our creator (we are made in His image) and He has no earthly father, Jesus is the closest relative, to each human.

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit by breathing on His disciples. It is very important to note that this
baptism is not an experience baptism. Jesus said to the disciples “receive the Holy Spirit”. The Born Again
“experience” is actually not an experience. We are saved by faith not by experience. By faith we receive the
baptism (breath) of Jesus. There have been no changes in the Church since the night Jesus stood in the midst of
the disciples and breathed on them. We still become Born Again, “Born from Above” the same way the First disciples
did, by acknowledging the resurrection of Jesus and by receiving by faith the Born Again baptism from Jesus. If
the resurrected Jesus has not breathed on us as His disciple then we do not have the Holy Spirit and we are not
yet born again, children of God.

Forty days after this event, the disciples were then baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit this is an
experiential baptism. This baptism is the baptism that empowers the born again disciple to now be a Christian
witness of Jesus. When Christians ask a person if they have experienced being born again, this is really what they
are referring to. It is very possible to be born again but not to be empowered by the Holy Spirit as a witness. We
become Born Again at our decision when we recognize that Jesus is our near relative redeemer, that we are dead
without His life. The day that we recognize the resurrection (Life) of Jesus is the day that Jesus will Himself
personally baptize us (Born Again) with His Holy Spirit of everlasting life. This is the Born Again baptism that
we receive by faith. The baptism of fire is an experiential baptism. This baptism happens later in the life of the
born again disciple. At God's choosing, God will give us various experiences and empower us to be His witness.
This experience baptism comes from seeking God.

First Use:Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet (wife/partner) for him.

The faithful marriage union between one man and one woman is a representation of the ultimate intimate Spiritual union relationship between God and His people.

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: … Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt with Me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 3:13-20

Jesus is the bridegroom and one day as a groom He is going to take part in a marriage an arranged marriage. The Glorious marriage arranged by His Father, God. The very special bride for Jesus is us! the Church of Jesus.

For I (Apostle Paul) am jealous over you (Church) with godly jealously: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:2

Some false teachers have tried to negate the special relationship that Jesus has with His Church/bride and have put forth the false teaching that Jesus was married while He was here on the earth. Often Mary Magdalene is suggested as a possible wife for Jesus and at times the wedding in Cana of Galilee John chapter 2 is offered as Jesus' own wedding yet it would be odd to have Jesus the “invited guest” steal the bride and then get married himself that would likely create a riot and would not be a legal wedding in lacking the Jewish betrothal period.

The polygamist teaching of the Mormon (LDS) Cult teaches and speculates that Jesus had as many as three wives while here on earth. It is Mormon teaching that every good Mormon is married therefore the Mormons have attempted to manufacture wives for Jesus and then claim that Jesus is a Mormon.

Rest assured that Jesus did not have an earthly marriage or any earthly wives but that according to the Bible the final union between Jesus and His bride the Church is yet to come in the grand and Glorious celebration of the Wedding Feast Supper.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. ~ Revelation 19:7-9

According to the Bible's prophetic enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Genesis Chapter 22, where Abraham offers his, “only Son” {Isaac is the “only Son” of Abraham in that he was the only child of Abraham to receive an inheritance in the Promise Land. A person is designated a child prior to receiving the father's inheritance and becomes a Son when designated to receive an inheritance without the inheritance the status as “child” remains. Abraham was the father of many children but in Isaac was his “only Son,” only inheritor.} and Isaac was an _unmarried son_, during the prophetic enactment of the sacrifice on Mt. Moriah (Calvary) the same location where Jesus was later crucified. It is then after the sacrifice and in Genesis chapter 24 that the Bible reveals the sending of the servant Eleazar (God's Comforter) [Holy Spirit] to go and to gather the bride for the unmarried Isaac, portraying an illustration of Jesus and His Church.

The Old Testament prophecies leave no room for any marriage of Jesus prior to His Cross and His Resurrection but do portray the Glorious Wedding union to the Church yet to come. Jesus could not marry the Church or any individual prior to the Cross as the remedy for sin did not yet exist.

Any marriage prior to the Cross would mean that Jesus was marring a sinner and really teachings of an earthly marriage of Jesus are yet another false set of teachings that are attempting to do away with the need of mankind for the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and of His Glorious Resurrection and it is an attempt to deny the special relationship that Jesus has with His Bride “The Church”.

The Church-Bride of Jesus was foretold in Adam and Eve

God created the bride (Eve) of man from the flesh of man (Adam), this is very important, the woman is not a new unique creation but is of the same flesh (substance) of man and this makes for the ability for one united common bonded relationship. The animals of God's creation are not originally created from each other and therefore do not have the close intimate relationship that humans do. The first animals were created by God from the waters of the earth.

Later God created the mate for the animals separately from the ground Genesis 2:19 “and out of the ground the LORD formed every beast” but the “suitable” help mate for Adam was not found separately from Adam therefore God created the woman from the material (flesh and bone) of the man Adam.

Interestingly God first created man from the ground and now we are created in the water of the womb demonstrating that God is not limited in His materials or in His abilities for creating life.

… but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a _deep sleep_ {death i.e. the cross} to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman {bride}, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: _and they shall be one flesh_. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ~ Genesis 2:20-25

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was _dead_ already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water {cleansing for His bride}. And he (the Disciple John) that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. ~ John 19:33-35

Just as the bride of Adam is created from the physical body of Adam we the Church, the bride of Jesus, are going to receive a Spiritual body of the same substance as the Spiritual Resurrection body of Jesus, making us “one flesh with the Resurrected body of Jesus”. This is made available to us and illustrated to us in the “Last Supper” Communion service that all Christians still take part in during each “Communion Service” where the “Bread (body) and Wine (blood) of Jesus are offered to all of the Christian followers of Jesus so we can each individually partake in and receive of the new Resurrection Spiritual body of Jesus.

The Communion is the “Last Supper” feast where Jesus offered His body to His followers, this was one of the last acts that Jesus preformed in presenting His body to each of us just hours before His crucifixion and death.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is _My body_. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is _My blood_ of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:26-28

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many _are one
bread, and one body_: _for we (Christians) are all partakers of that one bread (Jesus)_. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

As the bride of Jesus we will therefore be in a close intimate, rewarding and fulfilling, Spiritual relationship with Jesus. The bride of Adam came from the opened (pierced) side of Adam and likewise the bride of Jesus comes from the cleansing of the blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of Jesus while He was on the Cross. The creation of the bride for Adam in Genesis is a prophecy foretelling and fulfilled in the Cross of Jesus by the creation of the bride of Jesus His Church.

… even as the Lord [nourisheth and cherisheth] the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but _I speak concerning Christ and the church_. ~ Ephesians 5:29-32

The last invitation to Salvation in the Bible is a wonderful invitation given by both the Spirit and the Bride (Church), given freely to everyone.

And the Spirit and the Bride say come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him who is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ~ Revelation 22:17

*In short it would not have been possible for the Christ - Messiah to have a physical wife or any type of sexual relationship while He was here on the earth and then still be the Messiah. Jesus is the Sinless Messiah and had He had a sexual interaction with a sinful Human it would have been “strange flesh” for Jesus because the sinful flesh of Humans is Strange to the Divine and sinless Body of God.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening (life giving) Spirit. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:45

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second Man (Jesus) is the Lord from heaven. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:47

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:48

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, _Who knew no sin_; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Bible explains to us that each spirit being is to inhabit it’s own abode “body” and for example the angels that disobeyed God to have a relationship with women that in doing so the fallen angels left their own God given “abode” - angel spirit body, in that during intercourse the two would “become one” therefore the women did not become angels but the angels became fallen angels.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and _they shall be one flesh_. ~ Genesis 2:24

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, _That the sons of God_ (Angels) saw the daughters of men that they were fair;
and they took them _wives_ of all which they chose. ~ Genesis 6:1-2

And _the angels which kept not their first estate {body}, but left their own habitation_, {when they became one with humans (strange flesh to them)} He (God) hath reserved in everlasting
chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after _strange flesh_, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ~ Jude 1:6-7

In the same manner had Jesus the Messiah had a sexual relationship with a woman or anyone, as the homosexuals say that Jesus had their type of intercourse, He would have Become “one” with one person and ceased to be the Sinless Redeemer of All Mankind and that would negate the mission that Jesus set out for Himself to accomplish. The mission of Jesus is to reunite All Mankind, those willing to be reunited, back to Himself/God. Had Jesus taken one physical wife or been involved in any physical-sexual relationship He would Not then be eligible to redeem All mankind and would have invalidated the Church as His Bride in that Jesus would have already had His bride.

… the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:13

And God hath both raised (Resurrected) up the Lord, and will also raise (Resurrect) up us by His own power. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:14

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:15

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is _one body_? for two, saith He, shall be _one flesh_. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:16

But he that is joined unto the Lord is _one spirit_. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:17

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel (body) in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

And the LORD called unto the Adam and said unto him, Where art thou? ~ Genesis 3:9

Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) –> Chosen
(those who have responded to the Call) –> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for
God) –> Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).

Abraham –> Isaac –> Jacob –> Joseph

Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also
justified: and whom He justified, them He also Glorified. ~ Romans 8:30

Called is to be bidden, or invited. A call is an invitation. All are called (invited). To be physically born as

a human being, created in the image of God, is to be called (invited) into a relationship with God.

Jesus answered and said, This voice (The Father, speaking from heaven, glorifying Jesus) came not because of Me, but for your (disciples) sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince (Satan) of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up (crucifixion resurrection) from the earth, _will draw_ (call / invite) all men to Me. ~ John 12:30-32

Wherefore Jesus also (was sacrificed outside the city, at Calvary), that He might
sanctify (set us apart for God's use) the people with His own blood, (He) suffered outside the
gate (outside the city). _Let us_ (bidding, calling) go forth therefore unto Him (Jesus)
outside the camp, bearing (having) His reproach (rejection of this world). For here (this
fallen sinful world) have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come (Heaven). ~ Hebrews 13:12-14

Biblical Example: Abraham

Now the LORD God said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house, unto a land that I will show thee. ~ Genesis 12:1

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a new place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed: and he went out not knowing where he was to go. ~ Hebrews 11:8

Abraham, the father of faith, heard the calling of God and Abraham responded to God. Abraham left his old life
and went to have a relationship with God. This did not make Abraham without faults. Abraham still made plenty of
mistakes but now Abraham had a new life and a new friend in life, God. God became the friend of Abraham, that is
the call. The call is an invitation into friendship with God.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God. … Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with
all (Christians) that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs (Corinth) and ours (Christians throughout the earth): ~ 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

The Christians at the city of Corinth, worship the same God, Jesus, as all Christians no matter where they are on the earth.

Who (Jesus) hath saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. ~ 2 Timothy 1:9

God has called (invited) us into a relationship with Himself. God did not call us to do work for Him. In fact
God did all the work (creation redemption). God has called us to rest in the work that He has completed. It is
not work to obey God, nor is it work to worship God. Abraham was not working to make himself pleasing to God or to
get God's attention. Everyone already has God's attention. God called Abraham to come have a relationship with Him
and Abraham responded and proceeded to the promise land and received the promises of God in the “promise land.”

But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons (children, 5043) of God, to them that believe on His name: ~ John 1:12

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children, Teknon) of God: therefore the world knew us not, because it knew Him
not. ~ 1 John 3:1

Beloved, now are we the sons (children, Teknon) of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He
is. ~ 1 John 3:2

The Bible often calls children “sons” this is looking forward to our being in the presence of God and the receiving an inheritance from God.

Sonship, becoming a Son (Huios, 5207) of God comes later as being a Son is part of the Adoption of God. First it is necessary to be Spiritually Born as a Child of God, born into the family of God by His Spirit we become a “Born Again” child of God and we remain a child of God the entire time we are physically in our physical body here on earth. After we physically die and are received into heaven by God it is in Heaven that we are actually adopted as a Son/Daughter of God and the adoption includes receiving a new spiritual body and included with the new spiritual body is the new status of Son (Adult). Being a Son (Adult) we will have greater capabilities, greater understanding, greater freedoms, greater authority, and greater responsibility all of this being in heaven as we will then be in the direct presence of God.

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (sons, Huios). ~ Galatians 4:5

And if Children, then Heirs (Inheritance); heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. ~ Romans 8:17

Chosen

Eklegomai (G1586) Ek - out of; Lego - words; select, make choice, choose out, chosen
Verses - Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:14; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 58:5-6; Ephesians 1:4; James 2:5; Revelation 17:14
First Use:Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. ~ Genesis 13:11

Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) –> Chosen
(those who have responded to the Call) –> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for
God) –> Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).

Abraham –> Isaac –> Jacob –> Joseph

Chosen are the people that have responded to God's call. It is necessary to First respond to God and to obey
the calling of God to be in the promise land. Ishmael was not a child of obedience, he was a child of servitude
being born to Hagar the servant. Isaac was the child of God's calling, born free, born in the land of promise.
When we answer God's call and respond to God we are in a right relationship with God and are in the promise land.
The chosen are only chosen in the promise land. Had Abraham not responded to God's call and gone to the promise
land Isaac could not be the chosen child. Had Isaac been born anywhere in the world, he would just be another
person, but he was born in the promise land and therefore receives the promises of God.

And the servant said unto him (Abraham), Peradventure the woman (Isaac's bride)
will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son (Isaac) again unto the land
from whence thou (Abraham) camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son
thither again… only bring not my son thither again. ~ Genesis 24:5-8

… for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. ~ Genesis 21:12

Now we (Church) brethren as Isaac was (chosen), are the children of promise. ~ Galatians 4:28

When we accept Jesus and are born again into the family of God, we, like Isaac, are in the promise land of God and like Isaac we are the children of God's promises. Of the called those that respond to the call become chosen. God does choose with complete knowledge. God has complete knowledge of all past, present and future thoughts, actions and events. God uses His knowledge to make His choices.

Biblical Example: Isaac
Isaac is “chosen” over Ishmael to be the child to receive the promises of God.

And as for Ishmael, I (God) have heard thee (Abraham): Behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful,.. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac. ~ Genesis 17:20-21

Isaac is an example of being chosen. Isaac was chosen because he was born in the promise land and because he was born free. Ishmael was also a
child of Abraham but he was a child born as a servant. Only the children that are born into the family are free,
while children born from a servant remain a servant. Only those that are born in the promise land can be chosen to receive the promises of God. Isaac fit all the conditions to be chosen. He was born into the family, he accepted his family, he was not a child of slavery and he remained in the promise land his entire life.

First Use:Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Christ - Jesus); it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan's)
head [this occurred at the cross of Jesus],

And He (Jesus) bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: ~ John 19:17

Note: Genesis 3:15 “and thou (Satan) shalt bruise His heel” this happened among other things to Jesus on the cross where His heel was nailed against the cross and was badly bruised as He supported his body on the heel of His foot. This is a prophesied injury that could not have occurred by stoning or any other means of death. Jesus bruised His heel on His cross in order to heal us by His victory in crushing sin and death [the head (skull-Golgotha) authority/sting] of the Devil.

Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah and both mean anointed. Christ is not the last name of Jesus. Christ is a title and a descriptive word. The word anointed means wet, or juicy, meaning alive. To not be juicy is to be dried out. The Biblical picture of anointed is of a living tree or vine that is green and anointed with sap; this healthy plant is living and producing fruit. An unanointed tree or vine is dried up and dead, incapable of life and incapable of producing fruit. The dried up trees branches and vines find their use in burning in a fire. Another example of anointed is the blood that circulates in our bodies and the marrow of our bones, keeping our bodies moist and alive. Dried out unanoitned bones, are bones of disease and death and not of life.

Closely related to the term Christ is the Hebrew, Old Testament term of Netzer, where the word Nazarite comes from. The netzer is the green shoot or branch of a tree or plant. This special branch is a branch that has newly emerged from the stump of a cut down tree or plant. This is a second chance branch for the tree. The branch comes from the same root system of the original tree giving the downed fallen tree a second life. Mankind is in the predicament of a fallen tree. We were once a tree of life with God as our root and then sin destroyed us and cut us down. Without a netzer (green, alive branch) the tree would cease to exist. Jesus is the netzer to humanity. He (Jesus) is our anointed, alive branch, giving the plant a second chance and a new life. Note there is only one netzar, or savior branch Any additional branches that sprout are then called sucker branches. These sucker branches do not assist the netzar but they interfere with the netzar by sucking life from the intended netzar branch.

The town of Nazareth that Jesus grew up in is named Nazareth “Netzer town,” or green branch. Often in the Bible Jesus is referred to as Jesus the Nazarene (netzar). This is not a coincidence; this is a design of God because Jesus is the netzar. He is the living anointed Christ branch, that the dried up, ready for the fire branches of mankind can attach themselves to and find anointed living life.

Christian

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ

Christianos (G5546) Christ like, follower of Christ Jesus
Verses - Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16
First Use:Acts 11:26.. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians First in (the city of)
Antioch.

Then Agrippa [Roman king overseeing part of Judea] said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. ~ Acts 26:28

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on his behalf. ~ 1 Peter 4:16

Christian means Christ like this means we will exhibit some of the same characteristics and personalities that
originate in Jesus. Being Christ like in our new nature is completely different than becoming a Christ. Humans
will never become a God, nor will we become our own Savior, nor do we take the place or even stand in the place of
God. We simply become similar to Jesus in our behavior.

It is interesting that the disciples did not First call themselves Christians, but that the Christ like conduct
of the disciples led others to call them Christians. Additionally, Christians do not become disciples but
disciples become Christians.

Christians are not blameless people, but we are forgiven people. In fact, the only difference between
Christians and non-Christians, is Jesus. But Jesus makes the biggest difference the world will ever see. With
Jesus there is reconciliation to God and life, without Jesus there is just sin, misery and death.

Christian is Christ like; this is the outward appearance of our baptism in Jesus. We become identified with
Jesus. Baptism means to take on the appearance of another. If we walked down a busy street, chances are we could
identify professional people, tourists, homeless people, gang members and a whole variety of people, that are in
appearance and character to their beliefs, actions and situations. These people are identifiable with their peer
groups; they are in baptism with their various functions of the day. If we looked and listened closer we might see
a tourist with a cross around their neck, or a professional person carrying a Bible to read and hear as a homeless
person prays to Jesus and speaks of their unshakable faith in God, despite their circumstances. This is because
being a Christian is not limited to cultural expectations. These people are Christians First and foremost and they
then function in society, but the world recognizes their Christ like attributes despite their circumstances and
the world calls them Christians.

And I (Jesus) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon this rock {the individual's rock solid confession that Jesus is God} I will build my Church: and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. ~ Matthew 16:18

The Church, the “called out ones” are the people who answer God's calling to remove themselves from this worldly system, to respond and have a Spiritual relationship with God.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor effeminate (homosexual prostitution), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

All Christians are people who have been redeemed from their sins and into the presence of God.

Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way (way of life). ~ Psalms 25:8

The Church is a collection of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:28

There is not a distinction among peoples and groups in the eyes of God in the Church of Jesus. There are still Jews and Gentiles that do not accept Jesus and are not a part of the Church.

The Jews have had a six thousand year relationship with God. About 4,000 years before the incarnation of Jesus
God was interacting with Abraham. The promises and covenants of God belong to the Jews. It is the blood of Jesus
that brings the gentiles into the promises and covenants that the Jews already have. Gentiles do not become Jews,
but become Christians. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Biblical promises to the Jews.

Ephesians 2:11-14 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which
is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (close) by the blood of Christ.
For He is our peace, Who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Circumcision

Circumcision the removal of the flesh (worldliness) to live in the spirit

First Use:Genesis 17:10 This is My (God's) covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy sees after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised (unfleshly/unwordly).

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. ~ Romans 2:29

Circumcision means to cut away, removal, to remove that which is interfering with a personal relationship with God. The Jews practice circumcision as they are instructed in the Old Testament. Circumcision is the physical symbol of their covenant relationship with God. Physical circumcision is only a symbol of a relationship with God.

In both the Old and New Testaments God actually requires a spiritual circumcision of our heart. In our desires we are to cut away (circumcise) anything that would interfere with a relationship with God. We are to cut away any doubt, any unbelief and any unholyness. With the removal of these uncertainties comes a relationship with God.

And certain men [Jewish Christians] which came down from Judea taught the brethren [Gentile, Believers] and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved
(Salvation). ~ Acts 15:1

The act of circumcision became a big issue in the early Church. The Jews who were teaching physical circumcision to the new Gentile Christians, thought that it was necessary to become Jewish to then become a Christian. This position is not as outlandish as we might think. Those Jews correctly understood that all of the promises and covenants of God belong to the Jews. Those early Church Jews thought that if a Gentile was to come into a covenant relationship with God, it was First necessary to enter into the covenant of circumcision with God.

The Apostle Paul clears up this issue and says that the Gentile is brought into the covenants and promises of God, not by physical circumcision but by the blood of Jesus and faith in the resurrection of Jesus.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. ~ Galatians 5:5-6

That at that time ye (Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ~ Ephesians 2:12-13

First Use:Genesis 18:33 And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: And Abraham returned unto his place.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ~ 1 Corinthians 10:16

Communion is sharing whether it is sharing food, friendship, shelter, thoughts, conversation, or a host of desirable things. Communion is common access to desirable content with a desirable outcome. If someone shares something negative, it would be considered sabotage rather than communion. The ultimate communion is to share in the life of Jesus. This is just what Jesus is offering us, His life and that abundantly.

The communion with the bread and the wine is a representation that we are sharing in the body and blood (life) of Jesus. Our own mortal bodies are growing old and perishing. There can be no arguing the need for body and blood that are not tainted with sin. Jesus offers us His Body and His life abounding blood. When we take communion and eat the bread and the wine, we are participating in an illustration. While Jesus was teaching on earth, Jesus explained that if man desired to live, man would need to exchange the perishable body that man has and receive the same type of sinless body that Jesus has.

I (Jesus) am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove (argued) among themselves, saying How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily (truth), verily (truth), I say unto you, Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me and I in him. ~ John 6:51-56

Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man, ascend up where He was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth (gives life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit and they are life. ~ John 6:60-63

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. ~ John 6:66

This can be a difficult subject. Jesus explained that we need to have His body and His blood inside of us if we are to live in the resurrection. But then Jesus explained to the disciples that His body and blood are Spiritual “the flesh profiteth nothing”. Many of the disciples were saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat”. These disciples were seeing Jesus as just that, a man. Eating the flesh of a man will not profit, however, by eating (internalizing) the words of God we will profit with everlasting life.

Let's look at another reason why the bread and the wine that we as Christians eat is an illustration and not the physical body and blood of Jesus. One of the most illegal things that a person can do in the Bible is to drink blood or to eat the flesh of another person.

Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. ~ Leviticus 7:26-27

And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I (God) will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: ~ Leviticus 17:10-11

The law was strictly written to instruct and to inform us. The law informs us that it is unacceptable to drink blood and that it is a curse to eat human flesh. The law describes to us Jesus; therefore Jesus is not going to do anything that is against the law.

Had Jesus wanted us to eat His physical flesh and drink His physical blood then Jesus would have had to remove some of His flesh for the disciples to eat and He would have to injured Himself causing bleeding then offered it to the disciples to eat and drink. All of which would have been unlawful and the actions would actually cause separation from God and not reconciliation. Jesus did not offer His physical blood nor did He offer His physical flesh. Jesus offered the Spirit and His words are Spirit and life.

The bread and wine communion is symbolic of the physical body, physical blood and of the everlasting Spiritual body and the everlasting Spiritual blood of Jesus.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and He said, Take eat; this is My body. ~ Matthew 26:26

The bread is symbolic of the body of Jesus. The body that Jesus gave, allowing His body to be broken to pay for our sins.

For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:28

The wine is symbolic of the blood that Jesus would shed. The shed blood and physical death of Jesus would activate the New Covenant (Will). The Covenant that through the death of Jesus we can now live a new life through the resurrection of Jesus. When we eat the bread and consider the death of Jesus our First natural reaction is to thirst, thirst for life. Our desire after eating the bread is to drink and that is just what we do, we drink from the cup of Jesus' indestructible life.

And He (Jesus) took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of it; ~ Matthew 26:27

Confession

Confession means to have the same thoughts, same reason and the same speech as God

Homologomenos (G3670) Homou - same, place or time, together; Logos - words, reason, thoughts spoken
Verses - Daniel 9:20; Romans 10:9-10 14:11; 1 Timothy 6:13; 1 John 1:9 4:2-3; Revelation 3:5
First Use:Leviticus 5:5 And it shall be, when he is guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing.

Also I (Jesus) say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ~ Luke 12:8

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.~ Romans 10:9

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: ~ 1 John 4:1-2

Confession means to have the same thoughts and same reason and the same speech as God. Confession is to align our thoughts with the thoughts of God. Confession is not solely to a negative thought or action. We confess when we align our thoughts with God's thoughts and God's main thoughts are that He loves, adores and cherishes us. We are to confess God's love for us.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. ~ Psalms 139:17-18

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Confession means to align our thoughts with the thoughts of God. The word confession or similar words are used approximately 21 times in the New Testament and in only two uses is it referring to confessing sin, James 5:16 and 1 John 1:9. The other 19 times confession is referring to confessing Jesus. This is an important point. The night Jesus was betrayed, both Judas and Peter sinned and both Judas and Peter confessed their sin.

Then Judas, which had betrayed Him (Jesus), when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying,
I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself. ~ Matthew 27:3-5

Only Peter went on to confess Jesus. Just as with Judas, it does us no good to examine or confess our sin without also confessing Jesus, the remedy from our sin.

Conscience

Conscience is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong

Suneidesis (G4893) to witness between right and wrong, an obligation to do good
Verses - Acts 24:16; 1 Corinthians 8:7,10:29; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Hebrews 9:9; 1 Peter 2:19 3:16-21
First Use:Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil …

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own Conscience, … ~ John 8:9

Conscience is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Conscience is a product of the fall of mankind. Man was created in the Garden of Eden where there was only good and not evil and therefore a conscience was not needed. After the fall mankind would begin to experience both good and evil and therefore a conscience was needed to distinguish between the two.

Now the (Holy) Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their Conscience seared with a hot iron; ~ 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Since our conscience is a by-product of sin it alone is not sufficient to direct our actions in a way pleasing to God. It is required that our thoughts and actions be submitted to the Holy Spirit and in alignment with the Bible Scriptures.

Just like we cannot trust our conscience alone to convict us and direct us from evil we also cannot trust our conscience alone to support us in our right decisions. Again we are required to rely on the Bible for support and confirmation of our right actions.

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot (fault) to God, purge your Conscience from dead works to serve the living God. ~ Hebrews 9:14

As Christians we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, this cleansing includes our thoughts our actions and our conscience. Some people would give anything to have a conscience cleansed from past wrong actions. A clean conscience is possible, the price is high. The price for our clean conscience is the blood that resulted from the death of Jesus. Jesus came to give His life so that we would be reunited with Him and He gave His blood so that we would have a clean conscience in our relationship with Him. The price for our clean conscience was high. Jesus gladly paid the high price.

Contentment

Contentment stems directly from our being aware of God's wall and hedge of protection around us

Arkeo (G714) suffice, be sufficient, satisfactory, Lit. Being content through the erecting of a barrier or a wall of protection
Verses - Exodus 2:21; Joshua 7:7; Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5; 3 John 1:10
First Use:Genesis 37:26-27 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother (Joseph) and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites {descendants of
Ishmael, Abraham's child born to Hagar the Egyptian slave} and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment is the result of safety, well-being and peace. Contentment comes from God's wall of protection that He places around us. The opposite of contentment is in-contentment, which means “self-condemning”. Contentment is an interesting situation because, wherever we go in life, whether we go to foreign countries, to the heights of success or the depths of despair “there we are”. In other words there is no escaping ourselves wherever we go “there we are” and there are all of our problems, handicaps and hang-ups right there with us. Since we accompany ourselves wherever we go and into every situation we encounter and our positives and negatives accompany right along with us, it is a good thing in life to learn to accept ourselves and not to “self-condemn” ourselves but to learn to be content. Content with God and content with ourselves in God.

Contentment stems directly from our being aware of God's wall and hedge of protection around us. It is a Biblical fact that God is our constant companion, continually accompanying us through life. It is wonderful to realize that God is with us, then when we encounter problems, we know and believe that God is with us. But then why the problems? Isn't God for us? Isn't God on our side? Yes! God is on our side. Yes! God is doing a big work in each of our lives. It is the work of God in our lives that we need to recognize and acknowledge. God is God, therefore He is doing what He wants to do and what God wants to do in our lives is to get us to walk with Him. Walking with God means to walk where God walks and where God often walks is right into the midst of life's most difficult problems. God is a big God. He is far bigger than any problem man can ever encounter, God is even bigger than sin and death, problems man created for ourselves, but God being bigger overcame sin and death for us. Since Spiritually we will never die and never be separated from God then in actuality we will never encounter a true problem that cannot be overcome in God.

Contentment comes from the peace, rest and comfort of the fruits of God, the Holy Spirit, residing inside of us. And God desires for us to be content in Him. We cannot be content if we fail to understand the sinful nature of the world that we live in and if we fail to understand the temporary existence of our current predicament. We as humans live in a fallen imperfect world, that is a fact. All mankind is consigned to eat from the tree of good and of evil. God takes us by the hand and walks us through any evil we might encounter. Knowing that God is with us and that God is for us, we can find our contentment in God during life's situations and circumstances.

Conversion

Conversion is a realization that there is a living, loving God

Epistrepho (G1994) Epi - upon; Strepho - turn, new direction
Verses - Psalms 51:13; Isaiah 1:27; Matthew 13:15 18:3; Mark 4:12; Luke 22:32; John 12:40; James 5:20
First Use:Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting (new direction) the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Brethren (Christian), if any of you (Christians) do err from the truth and one
(helper) convert (new direction) him (Christian); Let him (helper) know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death (separation from God) and
shall hide a multitude of sins. ~ James 5:19-20

All people are sinners. When someone is knowledgeable enough with God and the Bible, to instruct and help others, then that person is walking in a converted (new direction) manner. That person
has made corrections in their own life and sins. They are hiding their sins in a sense by now recognizing them as sin and no longer committing them and now they are helping others not to sin as well.

Conversion is a realization that there is a living, loving God. Many people in the world are simply unaware
that there is a God and that God is available for a personal relationship. It is evident in the actions and deeds
of disobedient people that they do not have the knowledge that God exits, or they wouldn't act the way they do.
Once the existence of God becomes known to a person the person is now aware of something that they were not
previously aware of. This new awareness is called a conversion. The changes from living for self and the earthly
existence, to a conversion (new direction) of living with God and an everlasting existence.

An example of something unknown is from a story often told that when a group from a Church in the USA, went on a missionary trip into the
rain forest of South America. After several days and a long canoe ride up a river the missionaries settled into a
village next to the river. After making acquaintances with the native people, one of the missionaries commented
about the sweltering heat and remarked that he would like some ice to put into his drink to cool it down. The
interrupter unfamiliar with the word ice asked for some clarification. The natives living in the tropics had never
experienced ice. The missionary assured the natives that water could freeze and become hard as rocks. He even
explained that the river that flowed near the village could become ice and could then be safely walked on. The
natives never did believe the concept of ice, until some was dropped off from a visiting helicopter. And then the
ice melted into water. To the unconverted, God is like the mythical ice, yet to the converted, God is real and He
exists. It took an encounter with ice to convert the unfamiliar natives to ice; likewise it takes an encounter
with God to convert man to the existence of God.

And the Lord (Jesus) said, Simon (Peter), Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he (Satan) may sift you as wheat: {sifting separates the unusable chaff from the desired
wheat. Satan is saying that Peter is unusable and he wants to separate Peter from God} But I (Jesus) have prayed {to the Father} for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted (New
direction from denying Jesus), strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death. And He said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me. ~ Luke 22:31-34

Conversion is not limited to a one-time event. We realize that God exists; we can still have other conversions (new directions) as we realize more and more about God. Back to our native friends that had not believed in ice. Once they believed in the existence of ice they still had many new discoveries to make with ice. They would learn that ice is a great medicine to comfort a bump and a bruise; they might enjoy ice treats like snow cones and ice cream. We likewise know God, but then some moments we really get to know God even more personally.

Covenant

Covenant Agreement – Two Party (God and mankind) Legal Contract - Old Testament - New Testament

First Use:Genesis 6:18 But with thee (Noah) I (God) will establish My covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark (safe haven), thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy son's wives with
thee.

Covenant means a permanent agreement. A Biblical covenant is made unchangeable and permanent by the death of the author just like a person' s will is made permanent after the person dies. A covenant requires two parties and is the end result of any negotiation processes. The covenant is the settled agreement between two parties or the resolution of a dispute. After an agreement was reached in the Old Testament then shed blood from a dead animal was used to reveal the death of the substitute. The animal substituting for the death of the two parties of the covenant, death making the covenant unchangeable and irrevocable and permanent.

In the Old Testament an animal would be killed in substitution of the two negotiating parties making the agreement. A covenant is not in effect while the parties are living. It is exactly like a will. A living person writes a personal will, directing how he wants his possessions handled after his death. While that person is living the will is not in effect, because the living person can change his mind and the will at any moment. Once the person dies, there is no chance of amending the will so the will now becomes effective. A covenant is exactly the same except, that in the Old Testament the animal dies in substitution and the covenant goes into effect while the two parties are still living. The Old Testament (will) Bible went into effect at the substitution death of bulls and goats. The New Testament (will) Bible is in effect by the shed blood and physical death of Jesus, making the New Testament currently in effect and forever without changes or amendments.

With the new covenant and the death of Jesus the New Covenant went into effect and can never be changed because Jesus would have to die again for a newer covenant and it is not possible for Jesus to die again. Part of the new Covenant is Jesus' prayer to the Father in John 17:1-26.

These words spake Jesus and lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee: As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou has given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do … ~ John 17:1-26

Gather my saints together unto Me (God); those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice (the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross). ~ Psalms 50:5

Creation

Create is to make something from nothing - Modify is to make something from something

First Use:Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven (sky) and the earth.

Creation is the act of bringing into existence, that which currently does not exist. There are several Hebrew words used to describe the creation abilities of God. Bara (1254) create, create something out of nothing; Asah (H6213) build, build or make something out of already existing material and Yatsar (H3335) form, form something from already created material.

In the beginning God created (Bara) the heaven (sky) and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1

And God said, Let us make (Asah) man in our image, after our likeness: God already exits in His own image. God is making man in the existing image of God. ~ Genesis 1:26

So God created (Bara) man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created (Bara) He them. ~ Genesis 1:27

And the LORD God formed (Yatsar) man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ~ Genesis 2:7

Without a creator nothing would exist, existence requires creation it requires intelligence, a plan and the ability to create. Mankind is able to build and form many objects, like automobiles, computers and even genetically alter some physical materials but God created the original materials. God created the iron, rubber and petroleum that we form into automobiles. God created the electrons that we use for electricity. God created flesh, blood, bone and DNA that man uses to form altered flesh, blood, bone and altered DNA. Mankind might shape, mold and build but God created mankind with arms, legs, hands, thumbs and the ability to build, mold and use items.

This is a prophesied injury that is fulfilled at the crucifixion of Jesus.

And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold this (Jesus) child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yeah, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. ~ Luke 2:34-35

The cross of Jesus is the pivotal dividing point in humanity. The cross is the event to reveal the hearts and intentions of mankind. On the cross Jesus was suspended between heaven and earth. Our decisions about Jesus are suspended just like Jesus on the cross. Either we chose to have a relationship with God in heaven or our relationship is with this world. Our hearts are revealed by how we view the cross. Hearts that are either for God and embrace the loving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, or hearts that are against God and embrace what they think is the triumph of Satan and the death of God on the cross.

The Christian cross representing the cross of Jesus, is the single most recognized symbol throughout the entire world. The Pagan Muslim Hindu Atheist world all know and recognize the Christian cross of Jesus. To the Christian, the cross is a reminder of God's ultimate love for us, that God became a man and gave His physical life for us so that we can live with Him in His righteous Spiritual kingdom. The sacrifice of the cross of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus from death symbolized in the Christian cross is our hope, our joy, our redemption and our salvation. To embrace Jesus is to embrace the cross.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

The cross 2,000 years ago, while it was being used as an instrument of torture and death, had a variety of shapes and sizes. Some crosses were shaped like an X; others were a single post, without a crossbeam. The local executioner would use what was available at the given time. Sometimes people were nailed to a tree. Jesus carried his cross beam through the streets.

And as they (Roman soldiers) led Him (Jesus) away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian (city of Cyrene in Libya), coming out of the country (field) and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. ~ Luke 23:26

This cross beam may have been attached to a tree. Jesus might have been crucified on a cross that included a tree growing out of the ground and the beam He carried or, the beam that He carried might have been fastened to a post already there resembling the traditional cross as we know it to be. Either way, Jesus was crucified in the outstretched manner that we are familiar with.

There are several Verses in the Bible that would indicate that Jesus was crucified exactly as we are familiar with, that He was raised up and his hands nailed outstretched from His sides and his feet nailed together near the bottom of the cross. The disciple Thomas stated that he would not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus unless he personally saw the two nail marks, one in each of the hands of Jesus [the hand included the tip of the finger, to the elbow].

The other disciples therefore said unto him (Thomas), We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails {Plural} and put my finger into
the print of the nails and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. ~ John 20:25

Some modern day critics of the Bible have said that Jesus was crucified with His hands together above His head with one nail, but that does not match what the Bible says. The Bible says that a sign was placed above the head of Jesus, not above His hands.

And set up over His head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. The disciple John records John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a tile and put it on the cross … ~ Matthew 27:37

The cross of Jesus is the finest hour for mankind. It is the hour that God gave himself to us in a display of outstretched arms. Arms outstretched to us, arms that are open to all mankind. God fights all of His battles with an outstretched arm. On the cross God fought for us with both arms outstretched in a display of openness and love.

And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terribleness and with signs and with wonders: ~ Deuteronomy 26:8

I have made the earth, the man and the beasts that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm … Jeremiah 27:5

The cross of Jesus is triumph, the triumph of God over sin and death; we are to embrace the love of the cross of Jesus.

Death

First Use:Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die [separate from the presence of God].

The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. ~ Proverbs 14:32

And God shall wipe away all tears from their (believer's) eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ~ Revelation 21:4

Death means separation, separated from God and separation from mankind. The death of separation from God is not an experience that the Christian will experience.

Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead (absence of physical life), yet shall he live (presence of God): And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (separate from God). Believest you this? ~ John 11:25-26

Physical death is classified as when the spirit departs from the body that the body is dead (without life), yet the human spirit and human soul live on and are everlasting.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ~ James 2:26

In the Old Testament times when people died the spirit of the unredeemed person went to hell, a place reserved for future judgment. The spirit of redeemed people went to another part of hell called Paradise. Prior to the resurrection of Jesus heaven was not available to mankind. At His resurrection Jesus took with him the people that were in paradise. Currently if an unredeemed person dies they
still go to hell and await their future judgment. Currently if a redeemed person dies they go strait to heaven to be with God forever.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body (physical body), we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight: We are confident, I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Later Jesus comes back to earth and we will come with Him, so heaven will be relocated to here on earth. Wherever God's presence is manifested is called heaven, even here on earth.

Death is the ultimate thief. Death steals life from us. We are cheated and robbed of earthly life's experiences when people die or when we die. There are friends, family and relatives that we will never know because death has stolen them from us. Death has robbed and cheated us. Wouldn't it be great if we could see our loved ones one more time? See their face, hear their voice, feel their touch? Job was a man well acquainted with death and the loss that occurred with it. Job had seven sons and three daughters and in one tragic event, all ten of Jobs' children died.

Death is the guaranteed end result of sin both physically and spiritually. There is no doubt that humans exist in a sinful condition. Every human will suffer the physical effects of death brought on by sin. Jesus recognizes this fragile condition in mankind, this is why at the Last Supper of Communion, Jesus offered us His body and His blood because He is life and will never die. We can exchange our fragile life for the indestructible life of Jesus.

For this corruptible (physical body) must put on incorruption (spiritual body) and this mortal (physical body) must put on immortality (spiritual body). So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:53-58

God promised to restore back double to Job for everything he suffered.

Job 42:10And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before … fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand female donkeys. Job also had seven sons and three daughters. And we say hey God didn't double the number of children that Job had because Job had ten children to begin with, the ten children that death stole from him. But God did double the number of Jobs' children because when Job got to heaven with all of his children he would have twenty children. In Heaven death does not exist, all of our relatives who believe in God will be there all the way back to Adam and Eve.

Deceived is to think that a lie is actually the truth and to embrace and hold a lie instead of the truth.
People will go a long way for what they think is the truth. If someone has accepted as truth and believes that
space aliens exist, they will process all thought information to continue their belief of space aliens. They will
also preach their truth, which is actually a lie, to other people attempting to persuade others of their position.

The deceived will embrace any hardship or disagreement, as persecution. Feeling persecuted they will then remain
even more steadfast in their position while reason, facts or circumstances will have little bearing on their
position. Since people will fight harder for what they think is the truth, Satan has done a big job of convincing
many people to believe lies and then gotten them to fight vigorously to defend what is simply a lie.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

The battle for the truth begins and ends in the mind. Deception can only occur First in the thought process and
then our actions are carried out by what we believe from our thoughts. The battle for the mind is revealed in the
Bible as the battle for a walled and gated city. The gates of the city are where the legal decisions (cities
thought process) were made. If during an attack the enemy could gain possession and control the gates of a city
then the city would be helpless and would be in the hands of the enemy as the enemy controlled all access into and
out of the city.

And they blessed Rebekah and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. ~ Genesis 25:60

We possess our own gates or faculties but we are susceptible to lies and deception. The correct thing for us to
do is to entrust our gates (faculties) to God. We need daily to be refreshed from God by meeting Him in prayer and
Bible devotions. In modern times we are bombarded with information from every variety of media. Most of the
information is just simply deceit. The only truth we will ever find in this world is written in the pages of the
Bible. God leads those who want to be led by Him. God will lead us in paths of righteousness. Let's look to God
and not to information that comes from people who deny the very existence of God.

Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalms 16:11

And this is condemnation, that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ~ John 3:19

And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ~ Genesis 45:7

Deliverance is the removal from harm and danger by an additional friendly helper. To be delivered is to have
help and assistance and to be removed from whatever the danger is. To know God is to be delivered from the danger
of spiritual death. There are other dangers, perils and toils in life. God has many ways to deliver us from our
various problems. Some problems God will never have us encounter. Some problems God will remove painlessly from
us. Other problems God will use to strengthen us and He will hold our hand and walk with us as we grow in faith
and perseverance while we get through these problems. It is important to know and to understand that a person's
circumstances have no obvious bearing on their relationship with God. We could have problems on top of problems
and God could seem to be far from us with no deliverance in sight. Our problems, or lack thereof, do not indicate
our relationship to God. A person without a care in the world might also have no relationship with God.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god
of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But
we have this treasure (spirit/soul) in earthen vessels (human-flesh/body), that the excellency of
the power may be of God, and not of us. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:3-7

First Use:Leviticus 17:7 And they (people) shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their
generations.

Demons are an adversary to God. They are spirit beings that are disobedient to God and they are also disobedient to mankind. Demons do not readily obey God and they are not about to obey people. Since they are spirit beings we cannot normally visibly see them. Being demonic (supernatural) they are demonstrably smarter, stronger, wittier and more creative than a human being. In short, a human is no match for a demon. Fortunately God is constantly with us and it is God that protects us and fights our battles for us. We call on God to deliver us from any dangers demons pose to us. Demons do pose a real danger to humans. One way they interact with us is to place thoughts into our minds. It is important to test our every thought to the Bible and to reject the thoughts which go against the Bible. Demons can also possess people and speak through people, so it is important to test everything that people say with what the Bible says and to hold the Bible as our highest authority for truth and righteousness.

Demons do make people, smarter, stronger and more worldlier. A successful worldly person may not want to accept Jesus simply because they enjoy the advantage they have over other humans since they have a demonic influence instructing them. Writers and musicians can also be writing and acting what they have received from demonic influence.

The spirit realm is real and the demonic portion of the spirit realm is also very real. It is a mistake to ignore the demonic realm. It is also a mistake to place too much emphasis on the demonic. We have received life, we have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus looks out for us, when we have Jesus we have everything.

… And the disciples were called Christians First in (the city of) Antioch. ~ Acts 11:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ~ John 14:26

Disciple is a follower of a teaching. The Hebrew word Rabbi (Master) means teacher or instructor. A Rabbi is a very knowledgeable instructor; one that has mastered the subject in which the Rabbi is instructing

The same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with Him. ~ John 3:2

The disciple is not the teacher but the learner. God is the teacher, man is the student. We are instructed to make disciples of people. This means that we are to teach people to look to and to learn from God the teacher.

But the anointing [presence of the Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is
true and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. ~ 1 John 2:27

But ye have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One and ye know all things. ~ 1 John 2:20

It is interesting that it is the disciples that are then called Christians. We do not become a Christian and then become a disciple. It is in our being a disciple of Jesus our studying God, our getting to know God and through reflecting Jesus Christ, that others will call us a Christian.

And why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say? ~ Luke 6:46

Dunamis Power

God's Power - Dunamis Power

Dunamis (G1411) ability, miraculous power, able, possible, might, strength
Verses - Matthew 22:29 24:30 26:64; Acts 6:8; Romans 1:4,16,20 15:13-19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; Revelation 20:6
First Use:Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power (dunamis) and the Glory, forever. Amen.

But ye (disciples) shall receive power (dunamis), after the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me (Jesus) both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto
the farthest part of the earth. ~ Acts 1:8

Dunamis power is God's power as compared to man's power. God's dunamis power is displayed in creation and the
resurrection. God is the power of life and resurrection. This dunamis power is the power of the believer who is
walking in the Spirit of God; a believer who is empowered with God's power compared to self-human power. Compare
the amount of water a man can hold in the palm of his hand “self power” to all the oceans of the world as God's
power. God is limitless in His power and ability. God's dunamis-power makes living as a Christian very exciting.
Every moment and every encounter has the ocean of possibilities of being a Divine encounter. When we walk in God's
Spirit, being led by God, we can encounter any possibility, meet any person and have any opportunity.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power (dunamis) of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:5

And God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise us by His own power (dunamis). ~ 1 Corinthians 6:14

Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) –> Chosen (those who have responded to the Call)
–> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for God)
–> Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).

Abraham –> Isaac –> Jacob –> Joseph

Peter [one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus], an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers (sojourners) scattered throughout (the earth).. elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. ~ 1 Peter 1:1-2

Who shall lay (make accusations) any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. ~ Romans 8:33

God has justified (made right) Christians, therefore God is not going to listen to accusations (charges of wrong doing) He died to make us just. No amount of accusations can undo the sacrifice and cleansing blood of Jesus.

For I (God) know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end … ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Election is appointment. When someone has a relationship with God, part of the relationship is to fulfill the reason that God has created us.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created. ~ Revelation 4:11

God has created every person for a reason, First to have a relationship with God and during our relationship with God we get to get involved in the plans and activities of God. God has included us and made us a part of His activities.

That ye (Christians) would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you unto His Kingdom and Glory. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:11

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous
light: ~ 1 Peter 2:9

And He (Angel of the Lord) said to him (Jacob) what is thy name? And he said Jacob. And He said thy name shall be called no more Jacob (stumble) but Israel (governed by
God): ~ Genesis 32:27-28

Jacob is an example of election:

Jacob had a relationship with God. Jacob even wrestled with God but in the end, Jacob was renamed by God from
Jacob to Israel (Submitted to God). Israel was elected to a specific plan for God. Israel (Jacob) was to become
the father of the nation Israel. The twelve sons and two of his grandsons became all of the components of the
nation Israel. We like Jacob need to become Israel, submitted to God. It is submitting to God and following His
plan that makes us elect.

Note, there are God's elect (chosen for a purpose) in God's kingdom of righteousness. There is also another
kingdom, the kingdom of darkness of which Satan is the evil ruler. Satan also has his chosen elect to do his
tasks. When we reject God we make ourselves available to Satan.

All humans are called to a relationship with God. Not everyone answers the call of God; some people answer and serve the call of Satan. Some people become the elect of Satan. The Pharaoh in Egypt who kept the children of God in slavery and would not obey God by letting them go, is one example of Satan's elect. The coming disobedient Antichrist is another example of someone that will have rejected the calling of God and accepted the calling of Satan. Judas also rejected God's calling and chose to follow Satan in betraying Jesus. Everyone who serves Satan knowingly or unknowingly does it by rejecting God. By clawing, fighting, backstabbing, lying, cheating, killing, stealing and destroying their way to the top. Unfortunately it is the top of Satan's heap and he has nothing eternal to offer. God does not choose people for evil. God does allow people to choose which kingdom they will serve in and to then let them fulfill roles in each kingdom. Roles of righteousness in preaching, teaching, helping in God's kingdom and roles of destruction in persecution, disobedience and deceit in Satan's kingdom.

End Times

End Times the last time that man will be out of the perceived presence of God

Eschatos (G2078) “Eschatology” last, end, in chronological order, the last as opposed to the beginning \\Hora (G5610) “Hour” time, times, day, season, duration
Verses - John 6:39; Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Peter 1:5,20; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Jude 1:18
First Use:Genesis 49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

End times or last days are signified as the last times that man will be out of the perceived presence of God.
End times does not mean the end of the world or the end of time it means the end of man's separation from God.
Since the beginning of creation God has been revealing Himself to mankind. Since the fall of mankind God has
continued to reveal Himself, but to a separated mankind. When God and mankind are fully reunited, God will
continue to reveal Himself to man, although man will no longer be guessing about God since man will be in the
perceivable presence of God.

The end times are a call to mankind that the end of separation from God is almost over. The call to man is to
prepare to meet God, prepare to meet our maker.

Little children, it is the _last time:_ … And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ~ 1 John 2:18-28

Evangelism

Evangelism telling of the “Good News” Message

Euaggelistes (G2099) Eu - well, good, well done; Aggelos - Angel, messenger; preacher, proclaimer of the gospel, good and well done messenger
Verses - Galatians 1:8; Luke 3:18; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 4:11; Colossians 1:23; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 4:2; Revelation 5:2
First Use:Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company {including Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts} departed and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven {the First seven helpers chosen Acts 6:1-6}; and abode with him.

And He (Jesus) gave some, apostles; evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; ~ Ephesians 4:11

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof (accomplish, fulfill) of thy ministry (service). ~ 2 Timothy 4:5

Evangelism is to preach or proclaim the good news. The good news that God has not abandoned us to our sin but God in Jesus has rescued us from death. This is good news, this is the best news, an everlasting relationship with the loving, providing God.

Evangelism is the message of salvation in Christ Jesus. To be saved it is necessary to know that you are in danger of death and separation from God for eternity. The evangelistic message is therefore a two-part message. The message of sin and death and the message of life and resurrection in Jesus. It is necessary to proclaim both parts of the message. A message that is all sin, death and despair is not the gospel (good news) and a message that is all good news does not adequately portray the predicament of mankind nor does it adequately portray the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus.

First Use:Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ~ Genesis 6:5

Evil is not a part of the original creation of God. Evil did not exist in the original environment where Adam and the Woman lived. Adam and the Woman introduced evil into the world. It is interesting that God had planted the “tree of life” in the middle of the garden of Eden. God wanted Adam and the Woman to live securely in the middle of the garden, experiencing life through God. The Bible doesn't specifically mention where the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil existed. It could be that the tree of evil was located out on the edge of the garden and that the tree had to be sought out and discovered by Adam and the Woman. Anyhow find it they did and they did eat from the tree of evil and now we as their descendants are still eating from the tree of evil. God gave man a choice to follow God or to disobey. Anything that is not of God is evil. We have the choice just like Adam and the Woman (Eve) to follow God or to discover evil.

Biblical Examples: Satan, the Antichrist and the Beasts of Revelation (Beasts of the Earth - Revelation 6:8)

And I (Disciple John) looked and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him is Death and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the forth part of the earth to kill with the sword and with hunger and with death and with the Beasts of the earth. ~ Revelation 6:8

These beasts are cruel people, people that have denied the Deity of Jesus and they are out to inflict hurt and pain on anyone they come across or anyone who gets in their way. They are in legion with Satan whether knowingly or unknowingly. Satan was aware of the pain, suffering, separation from God and death, that would inflict people when he deceived the Woman and introduced sin into God's paradise garden of Eden. This plan of pain and suffering in agony is Satan's plan and cruel people are helping Satan carry it out.

Meanness is bad enough but it is different from cruelty. Mean people are usually that way because they are acting out of selfish self-interest and are unconcerned about other people's predicaments or situations. The selfishness that accompanies meanness often stems from insecurities that come from fears and worries, fears about the past, present and specifically the future; fears about finances, security, relationships, health and especially fears of death.

And He (God) said to me (Disciple John), It is done. I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ~ Revelation 21:6-8

Sometimes people are afraid to come to Jesus because of what they have done in their life or they are afraid that they are not worthy of God. Nobody is worthy of God that is the point; that's why Jesus died for us. We are not worthy in ourselves.

Meanness is usually selfishness and insecurity and people are often unaware that they offend other people. Cruelty is different. Cruelty is fueled by hatred and hatred is a powerful emotion almost as powerful as love. Cruelness enjoys inflicting pain and suffering.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. ~ Proverbs 12:10

How true. Some people even in their mercies are cruel.

Enter not in the path (make acquaintance) of the wicked and go not in the way (be a companion) of evil men. ~ Proverbs 4:14

What Abraham believed is that God is the God of Life. God had just promised Abraham that He and Sarah would become parents even though both of them were too old to have children.
Abraham believed that God could give life where none existed and God counts that belief in God as righteousness.

But without faith [noun] it is impossible to please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe [verb] that He is (God exists) and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Faith is a trust, a belief that we are safe and secure in the object of our faith. Moment by moment we have
faith in a variety of people and objects. We have faith in airline pilots to safely get us to the correct
destination. We have faith in doctors to diagnose and treat our illnesses. We have faith in the food we eat, the
beverages we drink and the automobiles we drive. Faith is not a foreign concept to us; we are constantly putting
our faith in many different things at any one moment. Just like we have faith in so many events during each day,
God has asked us to have faith in Him. God has asked us to have abundant faith in Him because our faith is
lacking, regarding the abilities of God.

There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all and through all [Everlasting] and in you (Christians) all. ~ Ephesians 4:4-6

The Bible has one specific meaning for the word faith. Faith is specifically a faith in the resurrection of
Jesus. Faith does not mean, “I have faith that God will pay the bills”. God may or may not pay the bills, either
way God is doing a work and He has a purpose for whatever He does or doesn't do. The faith, the one and only
Christian faith, is in the resurrection of Jesus. When we have true faith the belief in the resurrection of Jesus
and that through Jesus we too will be resurrected to everlasting life with Jesus in heaven, then who cares about
anything else? Who cares if the bills don't get paid? Who cares what the governments of the world are doing? who
cares if disease is racking the body? When there is faith in eternity, then the things of this world take a back
seat to the things of God. Faith in the resurrection does free us up; it frees us up from the worries of this
world. Sure there are bills to be paid, corrupt governments and illnesses to be dealt with, but when we deal with
life in the context of eternity and the living caring God we are then freed up to make better decisions and
choices.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20

Faith is as good as the “object of faith” is capable of producing. I might have faith in a certain company that
my money will be safe and secure there and then choose to buy stock in that company. My faith in that company does
not affect that company at all, either for good or for bad. It could happen that my faith in that company paid off
and the company did real well It also could be that my faith was misplaced and the company did poorly. Either way
the result was a product of the company and not a result of my faith.

Let's continue to look at faith. Faith is not a power faith is a trust. Faith is to trust in the abilities of
the object of faith. Faith is strictly dependent on the object. I might have faith that an airplane will take off
and land safely, or not and based on my faith in the airplane, I would make my decisions to ride on the plane or
to take a bus. Either way the airplane is unaffected by my faith choice. The plane doesn't land successfully or
crash based on my faith. Jesus, the object of our faith, He is all-capable. It is our faith that is lacking, not
the capabilities of Jesus. We need to increase our faith and trust in Jesus to adequately represent Jesus.

In the Greek language most of the words have the same base for each meaning. With slight changes, usually on
the end of the word, the meaning of the word changes. The same is true for the English language. For instance,
angel becomes plural just by modifying the end of the word angel by adding the letter s, angels. Words that are
nouns and verbs are also usually closely related. The noun talk, can also become the verb talk, talks, or talking.

The two Greek words Pistis (faith) and Pisteuo (belief) are the same word with two different endings just like
talk and talking. In English we do not say faith and faithing, but we say faith and belief, just like we might say
talk and speak. Faith and belief are the same word. They both mean trust. Sometimes we think that if only I
believe then I would gain faith, except that is like saying if only I could speak then I could talk.

Faith (trust) does not come from believing (trusting), but faith is a product of love. But faith which worketh by love (Galatians 5:6). Love comes First and then faith (trust) comes from love. Our faith in Jesus comes from our love of Jesus.

Fasting

Fasting to do without while focusing on God

Nesteia (G3521) abstain, go without, not take part in
Verses - Isaiah 58:3-4; Matthew 16:6; Acts 13:2-3; 2 Corinthians 6:5 11:27
First Use:Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel and all the people, went up and came unto the House of God and wept and sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until even and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Is it such a fast that I (God) have chosen? A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day of the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppresses go free and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning and thy health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rear guard. Then shalt thou call and the LORD shall answer; thou shall cry and He shall say here I am. … ~ Isaiah 58:5-12

Fasting is doing without. For instance, avoiding anger or jealousy, also examining our thoughts and speech are all acceptable fasts. Going without food is also a powerful fast in that the flesh and self-life are being denied. Hunger is a natural physical instinct, when we deny our hunger, our bodies let us know that we are hungry. The power in this type of fast is to then take that physical reminder of hunger and to be reminded that actually I hunger spiritually for the things of God. Throughout the time of the fast we are continually using the desire for food to remind us of our desire for God and in doing so we are re-adjusting our focus onto God. By the end of the fast we are more in the habit of seeking God and less in the habit of seeking self. Fasting is not a tool to gain God's recognition. The fast is a tool to readjust our focus and for us to seek God. When we seek God we will find Him.

… And Jesus rebuked the devil (demon); and he departed out of him (a man's son): and the child was cured that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart (away from the crowd)
and said, Why could not we cast him (demon) out? … Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. ~ Matthew 17:14-21

This necessary fasting to help others overcome demonic possession, oppression and strongholds, is the fasting of helping and bondage breaking. The gifts that God has given us are to loosen the bonds that keep people in captivity. The gifts include helps - helping people with various tasks; giving - giving to relieve burdens, teaching - explaining the truths about God from the Bible. Any of the gifts
used in conjunction with prayer are going to weaken and remove the demonic strongholds that Satan is trying to entangle into in the lives of humans.

First Use:Genesis 2:24 therefore shall a man leave his father (physical life giver) and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Peace be to the brethren and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Ephesians 6:23

In Greek when the word “and” is used, it usually groups like or equal value items. In this verse peace “and” love, also the Father “and” Jesus. Peace is equal to and in the same category as love. Likewise the Father is equal to and in the same category as Jesus.

Father is where we receive life and come into existence. No father no life. In our physical life we need a father and we also need a mother. Through our physical father and mother we become a physical being. God is one and refers to Himself as Father. There is not a mother God, but this does not exclude God the Father from also being a Mother. God is complete. When He created man and woman God made us incomplete. Men have some God given characteristics and abilities and women have some God given characteristics and abilities.

So God created man (humans) in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. ~ Genesis 1:27

God in Himself has all the [good] characteristics and abilities of both man and woman combined and God has many more characteristics and abilities than we will ever have. God is our Father. He gives us physical life. To those that acknowledge Him as God, He becomes the Spiritual Father giving Spiritual life as well.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: ~ Romans 8:14-16

Fear

Fear is the Acknowledgement of Danger

Phobos (G5401) “Phobia”; discomfort, fright, alarm, terror
Verses - Psalms 2:11; Proverbs 1:7; Isaiah 2:10; Romans 3:18; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 5:7; 1 John 4:18
First Use:Genesis 9:2 And the fear of you (people) shall be and the dread of you shall be upon every beast (animal) of the earth and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.

When Noah, his family and the earth's animals departed the ark after the flood, God put a fear of man in all the animals. Prior to the flood animals were tame. This is where animals became wild and distant from humans. God did this for man's protection. When sin entered the world some animals became poisonous and others became dangerous, if dangerous animals did not keep their distance
from people, then man would always be battling with animals.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: ~ Psalms 111:10

Fear is a feeling of fright, of being overcome, overtaken or overpowered. Fear is the acknowledgement of
danger. Fear is the beginning of the wisdom of God. Wisdom comes from knowing that God exists and that with Him
His judgment exists. We are to fear being judged by God. Some people do not have the fear of God; they are
deceived into thinking everything is going to be ok. They have deceived themselves into dismissing God and His
judgment against sin.

The Greek word for fear is phobos which is where we get the word phobia. Phobias are fears like closterphobia - fear of closed places, arachnophobia - fear of spiders. We are to fear God. He is awesome in His power. He is to be glorified, honored and worshiped.

We no longer fear the judgment of God through Jesus we have a relationship of love with God.

There is no fear in love; but perfect (complete) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:18

Fellowship

Fellowship is Friendship!

Koinonia (G2842) participation, interaction, communication, fellowship, interaction among friends
Verses - Psalms 94:20; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Philippians 1:5, 2:1, 3:10; 1 John 1:3,6,7
First Use:Leviticus 6:2 If a soul sin and commit a trespass against the LORD and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor;.. Then it shall be, because he hath sinned and is guilty, …

Fellowship is friendship. Friendship is a rare gift given to us by God from the cross of Jesus. The cross of Jesus provides the basis of friendship. Mankind would still be at enmity with God and mankind would be at enmity with each other without the cross of reconciliation of Jesus. Mankind without God is incapable of friendship. Without God, man could never fully view another human as a friend. There would always be the possibility that fellow man would cease to be a friend and become a competitor, a threat, a danger, even an enemy instead of a friend and as a competitor competing for materials and resources that are needed to sustain our life. With God we know that it is God that sustains our existence and our life, that God is capable of taking care of us in any situation. Relying on God frees us up to have friendship with God and with our fellow mankind.

And they [common Christians] continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ~ Acts 2:42

God is faithful, by whom all of you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:9

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ~ Philippians 3:10-11

Firstborn is a position. It is a position determined by God as God calls forth the generations of the families.

The Firstborn is a position of honor because prior to the Firstborn the family is childless and if a child is not born the family will cease to exist. In early Biblical times a birth was not just a child but the birth of a nation as these children became fathers of nations. To kill a person is to also kill his nation, his generations of offspring that will never know life because of his death. The Firstborn is also a position of responsibility, the responsibility of leading and guiding the family on a course that includes knowledgeable worship of God. If a family ceases to worship the living God, it is the spiritual death of a family nation.

The Firstborn has many Biblical implications all of which are fulfilled in Jesus who is the Firstborn of our resurrected life. It was necessary for the death of the Firstborn before God's children could be set free from the bondage and slavery of Egypt. Likewise, the death of Jesus has set us free from the bondage and slavery of sin. Had Jesus, the Firstborn, not died, we would still be slaves to sin. Jesus suffered the death of the Firstborn for us and Jesus having atoning blood also fulfilled the feast of Passover.

The feast of Passover was to protect the Firstborn of Israel from the plague of death suffered by the Firstborn of Egypt. A plague that was required to set the Jews free from Egypt and allowed them to be led to the promise land of God. Jesus is also our Passover. He has set us free and He has also given us Passover life. Jesus is the Firstborn of God and the Passover is a feast only for the Firstborn. It was only the Firstborn that were in jeopardy of death that night in Egypt. This is why our life is in Jesus because only He has life, as death (separation from God) has passed Him over and death will pass
us over too if we are identified with Jesus the Firstborn.

And thou (Moses) shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my Firstborn: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold I will slay thy son even thy Firstborn. ~ Exodus 4:22-23

To the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn {plural, Firstborns}, which are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect. ~ Hebrews 12:23

First Use:Genesis 50:17 So shall all of you say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray you now, the trespass of your brethren, and their sin; for they did unto you evil: and now, we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father. And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.

Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive (lay aside) and ye shall be forgiven (lay aside). ~ Luke 6:37

In (Jesus) whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness (no life) of sins: ~ Colossians 1:14

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness is important for the Christian. It puts us in a right relationship with God. When we realize that God forgives us of so much, we are correctly assessing our relationship with God. We can then share the same love that God has for us and use it to forgive others. It is sometimes said forgive but don't forget, but that is a very unbiblical principal because with God, forgiveness means exactly that-forgetting the past wrongs and living in the present. If God forgave us but didn't forget, we would not have much of a relationship with Him.

Forgiveness is a big Biblical issue because in the end, forgiveness really gets down to trusting God. Do we trust God with our hurts, pains, emotions and circumstances? When we have been hurt we are sensitive to being hurt again in the same way. The Christian walk is about doing the supernatural; it is about walking on water. When we look to Jesus as our example we can walk on the stormy waters of life that others sink down in.

Unforgiveness is the start of bitterness and anger. These are controllable emotions that, if we don't control, can take us over. These emotions are also physically unhealthy. When we don't forgive we really only hurt ourselves. Almost without fail the person, or circumstance that has us upset, doesn't even know it and if they do, they don't even care. Our anger only hurts our relationships and us. The Bible teaches us that we change our attitudes not by focusing on our attitude nor by trying to gain control but by changing our desires. For instance we get upset and angry at what other people do. We don't just try to control our anger, this is a sure way to fail and get discouraged. As Christians we have much more in store for us. We begin by talking to God and asking Him for help and advice. We read the Bible, we read page after page and spend time in prayer, real prayer, cleansing, refreshing, uplifting, life changing prayer. Soon we will have new knowledge of who God is and with this new knowledge we will begin to rest in God. Next time someone upsets us we just say, yea! We live in a fallen imperfect world. We try to see them how Jesus sees them. He loves them too. Jesus has set us free; one of the main things He has set us free from is bondage to unhealthy emotions. Forgiveness is opening the door to Jesus'
freedom.

Freewill - freedom

Freewill a personal enactment through personal choice

Eleutheros (G1658) free, unrestrained, without obligation, citizen as opposed to a slave
Thelema (G2307) will, determination, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
Verses - Deuteronomy 12:11; Psalms 119:108; Proverbs 1:29; Matthew 10:8; Acts 2:29; 2 Corinthians 11:7; Philippians 1:22; Revelation 21:6, 22:17
First Use:Leviticus 22:18 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons and unto all the children of Israel and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his obligation [required giving] for all his vows and for all his freewill [volunteer giving] offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering:

I (King Artaxerxes) make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. ~ Ezra 7:13

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ~ Deuteronomy 30:19

Freewill is enacted through choice. If there is no choice then the freewill is meaningless and cannot be exercised. From the beginning of creation God has desired to have only a mutual freewill relationship with mankind.

For that they hated knowledge and did not choose [exercise freewill, correctly] the fear of the LORD: ~ Proverbs 1:29

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ~ Romans 8:2

Fruit is the substance from the plant. Fruit occurs naturally based on the type of tree or plant. An orange
tree will have the orange fruit and a lemon tree will naturally have the lemon fruit. A tree does not become an
orange tree by producing oranges, a tree produces oranges because that is what it is First. A good tree will bear
good fruit and a bad tree will bear bad fruit. The easiest way to identify what kind a tree is, is not to look at
the leaves but to look at the fruit. The fruit makes it evident what type the tree is.

We as Christians produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit because that is part of what we are.

I (Jesus) am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. ~ John 15:5

But the Fruit of the (Holy) Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

First Use:Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man (Adam) whom he had formed.

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden [garden of Gethsemane], into the which He entered and His disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place: for Jesus oftimes resorted thither with His disciples. ~ John 18:1-2

Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the Garden a new sepulcher (tomb), wherein was never a man yet laid. There laid they Jesus … ~ John 19:41-42

Garden is a luxury item of a king or a lord. The garden is not an item in which the poor could indulge. They needed cultivating spaces to grow food for use or sale and the poor did not have the finances to sustain an expensive luxurious garden. The garden is an exclusive place where the owner has planted, furnished and shaped his own private sanctuary to reflect his choices and desires. The garden is a sanctuary where the king could walk and feel complete safety, comfort and ease. The garden is where the king would invite special, select guests to join him in his created paradise. The king would be revealing his personality in his gardening choices of landscape and design. The garden is a secure secluded place where the king and his guest can walk and relax together as they marvel at the beauty of the garden while they fellowship and become more intimately knowledgeable of one another.

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters and streams from Lebanon. Awake, O north wind; and come thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into His garden and eat His pleasant fruits. ~ Song of Solomon 4:12-16

Glorification

Glorification - Accomplished see also Called, Chosen, Election

Doxazo (G1392) dignity, glory, honor, praise, worship, magnify, accomplishment
Verses - Romans 1:21 8:17,30; 2 Corinthians 10:17; Galatians 1:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelation 18:7
First Use:Genesis 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory (accomplishment). The sons of Laban were complaining because their brother-in-law, Jacob, had ended up with the flock that Laban had Jacob overseeing. This was God's plan. Laban was not acknowledging God; also Laban was cheating Jacob. God desired to share His glory with Jacob. The sons of Laban were looking at the glory of their father Laban and they received it, nothing. The sons should have been looking for the glory of God.

Thy right hand, O LORD is become glorious in power: thy right hand O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy…Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praise, doing wonders? ~ Exodus 15:6-11

Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. ~ Romans 8:30

Called (all are called to a personal relationship with God) –> Chosen (responded to the Call) –> Elect (of the chosen, elected or appointed to a specific purpose for God) –>
Glorified (Accomplished in God's specific plan).

Abraham –> Isaac –> Jacob –> Joseph

The heavens declare the glory (accomplishment) of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. ~ Psalms 19:1

Glorification is accomplishment. God is accomplished in anything God desires to do, He is complete and He alone is Glory. When we take part in the plans and desires of God, we take part in His glory. We give glory to God by allowing His Glory to be accomplished in us.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. ~ Psalms 84:11

And the city (New Jerusalem) had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof. ~ Revelation 21:23

God's glory of accomplishment is like the sun shining. A ray of light leaves the sun; the ray is an exact representation of the sun it left. Jesus is an exact representation of the Father. As the ray of sun shines forth light and warmth it removes darkness and warms the earth; it provides light and facilitates life (bios). The sun is accomplishing through the ray of light all that it desires to do, in splendid glory and accomplishment.

His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon Him. ~ Psalms 21:5

God has glorified Himself in His accomplishment of creation and redemption. This is Glory, that God spoke and at the sound of His voice, into existence came life and that abundantly. This is God's glory, that He so loved the world that He gave Himself that whosoever believes in Him will live. This is God's glory, God has overcome our reproach of sin, disease and death and God has clothed us with His splendor and majesty.

Biblical Example: Joseph

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat (covering) of many colors. ~ Genesis 37:3

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? … And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring [seal of authority] from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand and arrayed (clothed) him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. ~ Genesis 41:38-42

Joseph is the biblical Example of glorification. The world betrayed Joseph. The world desired to kill him. The world sold Joseph into slavery. The world falsely accused Joseph of a crime that he did not commit. The world locked Joseph in a prison. The world abandoned Joseph and left him in prison. God overcame the world and glorified Joseph. God brought Joseph out of the prison of captivity. God clothed Joseph in clothing of splendor and majesty. God provided while the world starved. God accomplished His glorious plan of reunion and life. God accomplished what the world could not.

Like Joseph's road, the road to glorification is not an easy one. The world has rejected Jesus and as followers of Jesus we to will be rejected by the world. This is only proof that the world will suffer God's judgment and that the Christian will receive of God's glory. Like Joseph, we need to remain steadfast and be loyal to God at all times and through all conditions. Joseph is indeed the human Biblical example of glory.

God is the word that we use to refer to the “Supreme Being”. We as physical humans can only vaguely comprehend God. We can comprehend that we are people and that the earth that we live on and that the stars of outer space that we gaze out at, are all created by God. But it defies our comprehension that God is not created, that He has always existed and that He always will exist. There is only one God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). God is infinite: God does not even live in our time dimension. God currently exists in all time at once. God is not restricted nor is He hindered. Despite God's infinite power, God is a God of glory. He is love not hate and He is compassion and mercy. God has created the universe yet He is separate from the universe. As the saying goes “if God were small enough for us to understand Him then He wouldn't be big enough to handle our problems”. We have a God that we know very little about and we have a God that is big enough to handle all of our problems.

There are plenty of things we do know about God. God is always available to us for a personal relationship. God is Spirit, He is not like we are. He is unique and vastly different from us. God has revealed Himself to us in His appearance to mankind in Jesus and in His written words of the Bible.

The word God means Supreme Being. There are many things referred to as god throughout all cultures of the world. There is however, only one true God. When the disciples of Jesus wrote the New Testament of the Bible they used the Greek word Theos. Theos was a widely used word for the Greek god Theos. According to the Greeks, Theos was god. The disciples did not try to write a new name for the Greeks. They instead used the name they were familiar with but taught that the true Theos is Jesus. Then when the Greek Bible was being translated into English, the English word god already existed. The translators referred to Theos as God and instructed the English-speaking world that Jesus is the true God. Currently the Bible is being translated into nearly every language on earth. In many of the languages people know god to be Allah. Allah is the Muslim name for god. The Bible translators are not trying to find a new name for Allah. They translate Theos as Allah and teach the people that the true Allah is Jesus.

There is only one God; Allah, Buddha, Self, Satan, the Moon, are not God. It is necessary to believe in the Jewish / Christian God of the Bible to have a relationship with God. If we pretend that Satan is god we are actually having a relationship with Satan instead of God.

Who can comprehend God? We can't. It is enough to know that we exist, that we are not god and that God does exist. The rest we can safely leave up to God as He has revealed to us in His Bible.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, assuredly, I say unto you, Except a man be born again [lit. born again from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God. ~ John 3:16

First Use:Genesis 3:24 and He (God) placed at the east of the garden Cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

This is the gospel, that despite the disobedience of man, God has kept “the way to the tree of life”.
Note: Jesus is the tree of life.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom {that Jesus is the tree of life} and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. ~ Matthew 4:23

Gospel means “good news,” the good news of the resurrection of Jesus and through the death and resurrection of Jesus, reconciliation of man to God with eternal life. This is indeed good news. Sometimes the word gospel is mistakenly used to mean truth as in “what I'm telling you is the gospel truth”. It happens to be the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead and reconciled us to God, but gospel means good news. This is just how the news of Jesus should be presented, as good news. It is not bad news that God loves us and that our sins are forgiven. It is good news-the best of news.

Grace

Grace - Individuality see also Law - Conformity

Charis (G5485) cheer, greeting, graciousness, gratitude, benefit, favor, freedom, individuality
Verses - Ruth 2:2; Proverbs 1:9; Luke 2:40; John 1:14; Acts 4:33; Romans 3:24; Revelation 1:4, 22:21
First Use:Genesis 6:7-8 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast and the creeping thing and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Grace is graciousness, it is freedom and it means individuality.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace (individuality) that is given to us … ~ Romans 12:6

Grace is individuality; the law is conformity. Grace is allowing another person to do something differently, to be an individual and to make mistakes. If it is even a mistake in the everlasting realm - do we really know how things are going to work out and what is a mistake and what isn't? Plus, we often learn more from our mistakes than we do from doing things “right”. Grace gives us the freedom to learn and to discover who we are who others are and most importantly who God is.

For instance, when someone is in a conversation or witnessing about God and another-person would say something
differently or even disagree with what is being said and they think that they could discuss the topic more
thoroughly, grace is to let them be themselves and do it their way and let them learn. God does this with us, He
can witness much better than we can and we often misrepresent God. God gives us the grace to learn who He is and
to grow in that knowledge.

We receive grace from God through what Jesus did for us at the cross; He reconciled us to a relationship with Himself. There is no grace for the nonbeliever; grace only extends from a relationship.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ~ Romans 5:1-2

One person has to know another to extend or receive grace. The absence of a relationship is the absence of grace.

The “law” gives us knowledge of sin.

… for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ~ Romans 3:20

Without the law some people might not know that murdering another human is sin and unacceptable to God. With the law comes the knowledge of who God is and what is acceptable to Him and what is not. Grace allows us to have a relationship with God while we find out who He is and how Holy and righteous He is.

Moreover the law (knowledge) entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace (freedom) did much more abound: ~ Romans 5:20

Grace does not cover sins, only the sacrifice of shed blood and death of Jesus completely removes sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Grace allows us to have an individual relationship with God; grace does not allow us to sin. God's grace allows us to gain knowledge of God and grace gives us the opportunity to repent from our sins.

Grace allows sinful man to have a relationship with God. It has often been said that we live in the era of grace, but it would be more accurate to say that we live in the era of repentance.

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me (Paul) to you-ward: ~ Ephesians 3:2

The Apostle Paul, prior to becoming a Christian, was a persecutor of the Church. Paul is mentioning that the grace that God has given to him, is for a part in building the Church. Building the very Church that Paul tried previously to destroy. This is an era of God's grace and it is also the era of repentance and confession. Currently confession and repentance are required of every person.

And the times of this ignorance [ignorance of sin and of who God is] God winked at: but now [after the cross] commandeth all men everywhere to repent: ~ Acts 17:30

The Bible mentions three heavens (skies). Referred to as the First heaven is the sky where birds fly and clouds can be seen.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation which sing among the branches. ~ Psalms 104:10-12

The second heaven is referred to as where the stars and celestial bodies are.

That in blessing I (God) will bless thee (Abraham) and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is upon the sea shore … Genesis 22:17

Prior to the invention of the telescope, there were approximately 7,000 visible stars and of course billions of grains of sand. Critics of the Bible often used this verse to try to claim that the Bible was inaccurate when comparing the number of stars to the number of grains of sand. Through the use of powerful telescopes, man is finding out what God always knew, that there are billions and billions of stars instead of just the 7,000 plus visible stars.

The third heaven is exclusively referred to as where God resides in power, majesty and glory. Heaven is where God is acknowledged and obeyed.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. ..Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. ~ Matthew 6:9-10

When we acknowledge God as our Father, we experience heaven here on earth.

It is not expedient for me (Apostle Paul) doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; such an one caught up to the third heaven. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:1-2

The Apostle Paul was momentarily taken into heaven. Heaven was so incredible that he was not able to describe either the sights or the sounds of heaven. Earthly man is not able to comprehend the “third” heaven.

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. ~ Isaiah 64:4

Hell

Hell is away from the perceivable presence of God

Abussos (G12) bottomless pit
Hades (G86) grave, place of departed souls
Geenna (G1067) place of everlasting punishment
Tartaroo (G5020) deepest abyss of Hades, cast down to hell
Verses - Psalms 9:17; Isaiah 5:14 57:9; Matthew 5:22 23:15; Acts 2:27; James 3:6; Revelation 1:18 6:8 20:13-14
First Use:Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep (Abussos). And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

For a fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest hell and shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. ~ Deuteronomy 32:22

He [King David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption [decay]. ~ Acts 2:31

For if God spared not the [fallen] Angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ~ 2 Peter 2:4

Hell is the opposite of Heaven. Because sin is not present in Heaven, God is revealing Himself in splendor, majesty and glory. Hell is where sin has not been dealt with. Anything that is considered unclean is to be cleansed with blood, or passed through fire, this includes people. People who have rejected the cleansing offer of Jesus' blood now, will spend eternity in fire and because of their own uncleanness they are not able to approach the Holy God.

Hell is described in its entirety in the Bible. Darkness, burning, loneliness, unending thirst, agony and worms that will not die. That is Hell no more and no less. No streets of gold no dwellings no structure no society just death, darkness and torment, void of the presence, glory and comfort of God.

High Priest

High Priest - Jesus Christ is our High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek

First Use:Leviticus 21:10 And he that is the High priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend (tear) his clothes.

High Priest is the one and only lead priest among the host of priests. God chooses this leader of the priests. He has different clothing to separate and distinguish himself from the other priests. The high priest also performs certain duties and functions that only he is ordained to perform. Most notably, it is the high priest that enters into the holiest place of the tabernacle or temple and into the presence of God to offer the atonement sacrifice.

God chose the tribe/family of Levi to be His priests. Only a person physically born into the family of Levi is eligible to be a priest. God chose Aaron a descendant of Levi, to be the First High Priest, therefore only a descendant of Aaron is eligible to be a High Priest. The priesthood from the Levi family is known as the Levitical priesthood. Jesus also occupies the position of High Priest because God has chosen him to this position. Jesus is not a Levitical priest. Jesus was not born in the priestly family of Levi, He was born in the kingly family of Judah. A Levitical priest could not come from the tribe of Judah and a king could not come from the tribe of Levi. Jesus is a High Priest not in the order of Levi but in the order of Melchizedek.

And they that laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. At the time of Jesus, there were two High Priests, Caiaphas and Annas. ~ Matthew 26:57

All High Priests were supposed to be chosen by God and to serve in the position of High Priest until their physical death. Annas was the acting High Priest, but then the Roman government appointed Caiaphas as the High Priest, creating a situation where there were two living High Priests.

But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said [Yes]: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent (tore) his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy {claiming to be God} what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy. ~ Matthew 26:63-65

Judas betrays Jesus and He is arrested and is on trial for blasphemy for claiming to be God. Caiaphas, the High Priest, is conducting the trial. Jesus replies to the charge of blasphemy by saying “Thou hast said” this reply was the correct, polite reply of a person on trial. It showed the judge that the accused understood the language, the charges and the protocol of the court. By answering in this manner, Jesus was saying yes, He understood the charges and yes, he was equating Himself with the living God.

Jesus also went on to say that He would be received into heaven. This means that Jesus would be an acceptable sacrifice or offering. God receives an acceptable offering into heaven an unacceptable offering is rejected and not permitted into heaven. Upon hearing this, the High Priest said there was no further need for additional witnesses or testimony because Jesus had said that He and God were one. The High Priest then ripped his special high priest clothing. The tearing of his clothing was strictly forbidden in Leviticus law. Having torn his clothing, the high priest made his clothing defective and unusable in the service of God and ending his authority as the high priest.

Two other items were also ripped and torn that day making them defective for the worship of God. The next was the ripping and tearing of the body of Jesus by the beatings from man, as He was brutally whipped and beaten, making the physical body of Jesus defective for further ministry. Also torn that day when Jesus died on the cross, was the veil in the temple that separated man from God. This veil was no longer needed. Man is no longer separated from God, since Jesus reconciled man to God that day on the cross. The three torn items, the clothing of the Levitical high priest, the fleshly body of Jesus' and the veil of the earthly temple, making each item unusable for service to God. Unusable because being damaged they no longer accurately represented who God is and that they became obsolete in the New Covenant of God. Theses items being defective ended the earthly Levitical ministry. Currently the only valid ministry to God is the Spiritual High Priest ministry of Jesus in the order of
Melchizedek.

Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit God the Person of the Holy Spirit with God the Person of the Father and with Jesus Christ the Person of the Son

Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is one of the triune Godhead. The Holy Spirit is God, as the Father is God and as Jesus is God. God has revealed Himself to mankind as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, three distinct members, yet one God. As humans, we cannot comprehend the triune God, but then we cannot comprehend a lot of things so just add this to the list of things we don't understand. The triune nature of God will not always be a mystery to us. When we get to heaven we will distinctly know the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We wonder, where is God? We know that God is Spirit and we being physical cannot see the spirit realm unless the spirit realm is revealed to us. That is revealed, in some physical sense that we can hear, see, touch, smell, or taste. Angels are spirit beings yet we cannot see them unless they are revealed to us. We cannot directly see angels nor can we directly see God, but that doesn't mean that they don't exist. We can't see radio waves but they exist. Radio waves are constantly bouncing around us, but unless we turn on a radio we are unaware that they even exist.

Is God out there, far out there, far from us and far from anything we might do? The Bible tells us exactly where God is. God is very near to all humans. The Bible uses three prepositions (locations) to reveal to us where God is.

The First preposition is “parallel”. The Bible tells us that God is parallel or beside every living person on the earth. It is not possible to escape God's presence, God is parallel (beside) each person, believer and non-believer. For instance, God is overseeing the non-voluntary life functions of our bodies, God causes our hearts to beat as well as giving us every breath we breathe during our life. God also oversees the growth of our bodies. Each cell in our body has the DNA code to divide and become any type of body tissue. It is God Who instructs each cell what to become, whether to become, eye, brain, stomach, hair, bone, lung, teeth, tissue etc. Without God no one would grow or function. It is rejecting God's parallel presence in our life that is rejecting
God and keeps the non-believer a non-believer.

The second preposition used in God's relationship to people is, “in”. Once a person acknowledges the parallel presence of God and invites God into their life, God comes “in” to the person and combines with the human spirit of the person, giving the person eternal Spiritual life in a new internal Spiritual relationship with God a relationship with God as our Father and we as God's Spiritual children.

The third preposition used in the Bible for God's location to we humans is “upon”. God is always beside us. It is not possible for God to not assist us through life. The “upon” preposition is used to refer to the empowerment work of God. From time to time God comes upon people giving people an overflow of God's presence. It is this overflow or upon that enables people to speak and witness, prophesy and display in many ways the greatness and wonderfulness of God.

The Holy Spirit fulfills all three of these locations. But also, God is one, so when the Holy Spirit is in us, so is the Father and so is Jesus. Isn't it wonderful every place we could want to exist, God is there, the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

First Use:Ruth 1:12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband, If I should say, I have hope …

Hope is the optimistic expectation of future success. The opposite of hope is despair; the expectation of future disappointment and failure. Hope is in conjunction with faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

Hope is an expectation. We could hope for a relationship, job, car, house, but as soon as we realize our expectation we no longer hope. We might have a new hope for a bigger car, or a bigger house, but as soon as we receive it, we no longer hope for it. We hope for what we don't have. Unfulfilled hope is disappointment. Our hope in Jesus will never be disappointed because one day we will meet Jesus face to face.

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. ~ Proverbs 13:12

I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. ~ Psalms 16:8-9

The word hope is mentioned in about 12 Old Testament books and it is used in just over 1/2 of the New Testament books, about 14. Interestingly the word hope is not mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, or John and is only mentioned twice in Luke. Once when people hoped to be repaid money they had lent out and once when non-believing people hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle, like a magician. The word hope is never used to hope in God when Jesus is present. Hope is only used in the Old Testament prior to Jesus' First coming and in the epistles after Jesus has ascended back up to heaven. Hope and faith will both vanish when we come into the visual presence of Jesus. We will no longer hope for what we have.

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; ~ Titus 1:2

Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; ~ Titus 2:13

That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:7

Inheritance

Inheritance is the Reuslt of Adoption

Kleronomeo (G2816) Kleros - portion; Nome - give out; ie. stream, river torrent; receive a possession as it has flowed to you from another source, specifically an abode, dwelling, house, including land and pasture

First Use:Genesis 15:6-7 And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and He (God) counted it to him for righteousness. And He said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the
Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him (Jacob), Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our fathers house? ~ Genesis 31:14

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord (owner) Christ. ~ Colossians 3:24

To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. ~ Peter 1:4

Inheritance is to receive from the labors of the father; the father gives (wills) his possession to the sons. While the son is a child he doe's not make the decisions regarding the estate of the father. Once the child receives the inheritance from the father, the son operates his share of the estate according to his own intentions.

Inheritance is a part of the birthright. First a person is born into a family and then as a family member he is eligible to receive an inheritance. If the person were not a family member they would be receiving a gift and not an inheritance. In the family of God, a person is spiritually born in the likeness of God the Father into the family of God. When a person is “born again” Spiritually into the family of God, they become a child (Teknon, G5043) of God. A child is a member of the family bearing the resemblance of the father; a child that is promised an inheritance becomes a son (Huios, G5207) and in the future will receive sonship and the inheritance that accompanies sonship.

But as many as receive Him (Jesus) to them gave He power to become the sons (children, Teknon) of God, even to them that believe on His name. ~ John 1:12

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (children, Teknon) of God: therefore the world knew us not, because it knew Him
not. ~ 1 John 3:1

Beloved, now are we the sons (children, Teknon) of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He
is. ~ 1 John 3:2

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (sons, Huios). ~ Galatians 4:5

The KJV Bible often calls children “sons”. This is looking forward to our being in the presence of God and receiving an inheritance from God. In the parable about the lost son in the book of Luke 15:11-32, the father calls his two children sons. They are both his children and they will both receive an inheritance from the father. The younger son insists that the father give him his inheritance, his sonship. The father always intended to give sonship to the sons and gave the younger son his inheritance. Later, when the younger son returns and is
warmly treated by the father, the older son becomes upset.

But as soon as this thy son (Huios) was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he (father) said unto him, Son (child, Teknon), thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine. ~ Luke 15:30-31

The father while comforting his son is telling him that actually he was still a child in inheritance status and that one day in sonship he would receive everything that the loving father had.

He that overcometh _shall inherit_ all things; and I will be his God, and he _shall
be my son_. ~ Revelation 21:7

Inheritance has with it the understanding that the inheritance is a gift; there is no labor or wages associated with the inheritance. The Biblical example of inheritance is when the Jews, the children of God, were brought out of Egypt. They then proceeded to the promise land which was their inheritance. Their inheritance, the promise land, was already built up. The Hebrews lived in the houses that were there, drank from existing wells and ate from fields planted by others.

And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which He swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not and houses full of good things, which thou filledst not and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; ~ Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Also in the New Testament, Jesus talks about the true promise land, heaven.

In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ~ John 14:2

Jesus

Jesus see also Father, Holy Spirit

Iesous (G2424) Jesus, lit. God (Yahweh) is Salvation (Healing)
Hebrew: Yeshua “Joshua”; Joshua is the Old Testament name of Jesus

First Use:Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman and between they seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Jesus);

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ~ Matthew 1:1

{Apostle Paul, speaking to the elders of the Ephesian Church} Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood (shed blood of Jesus on the cross). ~ Acts 20:28

Jesus is God. God has revealed Himself to mankind as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus is also the Son of God, meaning that He is as His Father is. For instance, angels are sons of God by creation. Humans become sons of God by adoption. Jesus is not created and Jesus is not adopted. Jesus is God always existing as God. Jesus is the begotten Son of God. This means that Jesus is God just like his father; just like a bird is just like the father bird, a fish is just like the father fish, or a human is just like the human father.

(Jesus) Who, being (existing) in the form (Morph, (G3444)) of God, thought it not robbery (misrepresentation) to be equal (Equal, =, same value) with God: But made Himself of no reputation and
took upon Him the form (Morph, (G3444)) of a servant and was made in the likeness (sameness) of men (mankind). ~ Philippians 2:6-7

Since Jesus is also the Son of God, Jesus has a body (abode). Being a son, Jesus also receives an inheritance. In His case He is the Firstborn so Jesus receives a double inheritance! Also as a Son, a family member, Jesus lives in the visible presence of God.

Body:
Jesus' new resurrection body is a Spiritual body. Jesus did not need a new body nor did He need to take on the body of a human, He did it for us.

And after six days Jesus talketh with Peter, James and John his brother and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart (different area) and (Jesus) was transfigured (Metamorphoo, (3339)) before them: and His face did shine as the sun and His raiment (clothing) was white as the light. ~ Matthew 17:1-2

Jesus was momentarily glorified in His physical body, revealing that Jesus in His physical body was still without sin. The Father would never have glorified Jesus in His physical body had sin been present, we sinful humans cannot be glorified in our physical bodies we depart our sinful bodies to receive a new glorified spirit body.

Jesus took on our sin on the cross, dying on the cross. Three days later Jesus resurrected in a new Spiritual body.

… God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. With human sin condemned to the flesh, ~ Romans 8:3

Our new spiritual body will be without sin.

(Jesus) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious {resurrected} body, according to the working (dunamis power) whereby He is able even to subdue all
things unto Himself. ~ Philippians 3:21

When we physically die, our soul and spirit go into the visible presence of God. A person cleansed of their sin will be adopted by God and receive an inheritance and a new sinless spiritual body, a body that will allow us to remain in the presence of God and a body that will not wear out like our current physical body.

And He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. ~ Colossians 1:18

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy (Esau's) birthright. The birthright is the double inheritance. ~ Genesis 25:31

… But he (earthly, father) shall acknowledge the son of the hated {divorced wife} {this is if there is a case of divorce and re-marriage and another son is born with the new wife. The father cannot cheat the true Firstborn out of the double inheritance.} for the Firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he (Firstborn) is the beginning of his (father's) strength; the right of the Firstborn. {The right is the double inheritance}. ~ Deuteronomy 21:17

Jesus having the position of the Firstborn son receives the double inheritance. Jesus will inherit the Jews and the Gentiles. God can create anything that He wants to. He has chosen to give to His Son Jesus, the inheritance gift, of men, women and children that love Him and choose to spend eternity with Him. The kingdom of God is about people. God so loves His people that He wants only us. Nothing else in this world interests God.

He chose David (King David) also His servant and took him from the sheepfolds (David was a shepherd boy): From following the ewes (female sheep) great with young he brought him to
feed Jacob His people (Jews) and Israel His (God's) inheritance. {Jacob and Israel are both mentioned both referring to the Jewish nation, this is a poetic way of emphasizing the Jewish nation.} ~ Psalms 78:70-71

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee {Prophet writing about the physical birth of Jesus in the manger} Ask of Me (Father) and I shall give thee the heathen (Gentiles) for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ~ Psalms 2:7-8

For thou shall break forth on the right hand and on the left {Jewish nation is not going to get wiped out but is going have a great population}; And thy seed (Jesus) shall inherit the gentiles and make the desolate to be inhabited. ~ Isaiah 54:3

Family member:
Jesus is not rejected by God but is a family member and being a family member is in close proximity and fellowship with the Father in heaven. Jesus is seated (at rest) at the right hand (place of honor) of the Father.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ~ Romans 8:34

Jesus being a son (family member) of God is in God's visible presence and enjoys the privileges and honors of being a family member.

Jews

Jews - Hebrews

Hebraios (G1445) “Wander” Hebrew, Jew; Descendants of Abraham, Isaac Jacob, the physical brethren of Jesus, the people with whom the covenants of God belong

First Use:Genesis 14:13 And there was one that escaped and told Abram the Hebrew;

Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; ~ Esther 2:5

Jews are the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and those that have converted to Judaism who follow the laws and customs given to the Jews from God. However, being born a descendant of Abraham does not automatically make a person redeemed by God. It is still up to the individual Jewish person to have faith in God.

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. ~ Romans 9:7-8

The Jews are the group of people that God has given the promises and the covenants to.

Who (Apostle Paul's physical relatives) are the Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service of God and the promises; Whose are the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all God blessed forever. Amen. ~ Romans 9:4-5

God has not given any promises to the nations (gentiles) except for the promise that the gentiles, through Jesus, would be brought into the promises and covenants given and remaining with the Jews.

The Jews are in a unique situation right now. The Jews are spiritually blind to the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah Savior. Jesus is one of the many names of God. The name Jesus means, “God is Salvation” (healing). The Jews have rejected Jesus, their healer. The Jews do not currently have a healing (salvation/Jesus) relationship with God. However, the Jews are still very much in a relationship with God. God is still their Father. He is still their redeemer and He is still their protector. Currently the Christian is both redeemed and receiving salvation (healing). The Jew is redeemed but because of blindness they are not receiving salvation (healing). The salvation of the Jew occurs after physical death when they are brought into the presence of God/Jesus.

For I (Apostle Paul) would not, brethren (Church), that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, least ye should be wise in your own conceits; that the blindness in part [some Jews will accept
Jesus] has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved (salvation). ~ Romans 11:25

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: ~ Colossians 1:2

For as ye (Gentiles) in times past have not believed in God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (Jews) unbelief: Even so have these (Jews) also now not believed, that through
your (Church's) mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all (Jews Gentiles) in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out {Except what He reveals to us}. ~ Romans 11:30-33

Joy

First Use:Deuteronomy 28:47-48 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with Joyfulness and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies …

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His Holy Name. ~ Psalms 33:20-21

Joy is an emotion, a state of being. As cognition (self aware) beings we are aware that we exist and we are also aware of the condition in which we exist. We can be rested, relaxed, hungry, tired, as well as happy, even sad. Because we are complex spiritual, emotional and physical beings, we might even have mixed emotions and feelings. Joy is one of our many emotions and joy is directly related to our current situation and our perceived outcome. The Christian finds joy in his current relationship with God and the future outcome of eternity in heaven with God.

As Christians we live and exist in two realms; the earthly realm where sin is present and the heavenly realm where God is acknowledged and obeyed. Our Joy comes from above It is manifested through and comes directly from God. Existing in the dual nature of earthly and heavenly existence, we the Christian have more mixed emotions and mixed feelings. Becoming a Christian expands our emotional range since we have God's Spirit giving life to our human spirit. We see more and feel more of what God does. When we see pain and suffering we grieve more than we might have in the past. When we see Jesus exalted, we rejoice more than we would have in the past. Being a Christian is not emotionless. In fact, being a Christian is more emotional than being a non-Christian.

Because people possess a mixed bag of emotions and Christians live a mixed existence, dealing with our emotions is an essential part of the Christian walk. Being a Christian gives us individuality (Grace). In any Church gathering there will be a mixture of many emotions, all of which may be valid.

Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that do weep. ~ Romans 12:15

Emotions are valid. The thing about emotions is that God is bigger than our emotions. If we rejoice, exalt, cheer, weep, mourn, grieve, it doesn't matter God is still seated on His throne. God is in control and God meets us where we are, regardless of our circumstances and emotions.

For if our heart (emotions) condemn us, God is greater than our heart (emotions) and knoweth all things. ~ 1 John 3:20

Fortunately God does not tell us to stop weeping and cheer up before we talk (pray) to Him. God is with us in every condition we are in.

One of the ways to see that God is still in control during our emotional valleys is to look around at creation and at nature. As we are in our own personal dumps of life, surprisingly life goes on around us. Birds chirp and fly, the sun rises and sets, the moon likewise and stars do their part. The weather comes and goes, all because God is still in control. Nature does not feel our pain. Nature does not stop to help us. Thank God, our hope and our joy is in God and not in nature.

First Use:Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah (pause to reflect consider). Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. ~ Psalms 82:1-2

Judgment is to make a knowledgeable decision. The result of a judgment is separation, separating the good from the bad or right from wrong. The Bible uses the examples of separating light from darkness or wheat from its chaff. Light is open and available while darkness is hidden and dangerous. Wheat is the food kernel capable of sustaining life. The chaff is the undesirable outer covering of the food kernel that needs to be removed to get to the food kernel.

(Jesus) Whose fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly purge His floor and gather his Wheat into the garner (building); but He will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable fire. ~ Matthew 3:12

The prophet hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? Saith the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 23:28

We have to make judgments regarding what we think, say and do, as well as the actions of others. Often when people interact with us part of what is said and done is acceptable (wheat) it will nourish (strengthen) and build us up. Part of the interaction will be chaff (undesirable) we are required to make a judgment based on the Bible as to what we consider to be wheat or chaff. This involves the moment-by-moment decisions and materials we are using to build our life relationship with Jesus.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (judge) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ~ 1 John 4:1

First Use:Genesis 18:19 For I (God) know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. ~ Revelation 19:20

He (God) hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God? ~ Micah 6:8

Justice is making correct decisions. Since in the world both sin and righteousness exist, God judges with justice (correctness). Justice involves judgment Since there is disobedience justice requires that disobedience not be rewarded but that it will be correctly identified and punished. Justice is First Used in the Bible when the Lord reveals to Abraham that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are about to be judged by God. In justice, God is judging two cities according to their conduct.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ~ Proverbs 29:2

Throughout the world people can deal with poverty, hunger and a variety of hardships but a lack of Justice is difficult to endure.

A lack of justice is very difficult on people causing people to suffer mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Because injustice is so hard on people it is one of Satan's main tools to discourage people. The worldly earthly system of governments, law and business are being influenced by the ruler of this world (Satan) and with Satan's influence there is a lack of justice. Christians should keep the focus on Jesus to look for true justice. Jesus knows the intentions of every person and is therefore the one true administer of justice.

Behold My servant (Jesus), whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles {Jesus will be ruler over the
nations}. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street {Jesus taught, He didn't shout in the streets}. A bruised reed shall He not break and the smoking flax shall He not quench {Jesus will not kick people when they are down}: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He has set judgment in the earth: and the isles (far places) shall wait for His law. ~ Isaiah 42:1-4

Justification is the act of justifying or making acceptable something that is unacceptable. We as sinful humans are unacceptable to God. We then need to be made acceptable justified. We are made acceptable when we become one with Jesus, because Jesus is acceptable to God.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him (Jesus) that Justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ~ Romans 4:5

Isn't it interesting that if we worked and made ourselves wonderful, then we still wouldn't be justified because God only justifies the ungodly.

But for us also, to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses (sins) and was raised
again for our justification. ~ Romans 4:24-25

We become acceptable to God when we believe in the finished work of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Let's look at justification from another angle; the angle of us justifying our own sins. When do our thoughts
or actions become sin? After all, it is not a sin to be tempted. Satan tempted Jesus yet Jesus remained without
sin. One area where temptation becomes sin is when we justify or make right our wrong actions. For example, if we
accidentally brought home from work a pen, this is not a sin. But when we justify our wrong action and make
excuses, like saying, “that big company they can afford it, they won't miss it,” or saying, “they owe it to me, so
I'll just take it,” having justified our action it becomes sin.

Another example, sin does not have to be a physical event. We tend to justify our sins by not protecting our
thoughts and by inappropriate actions and behaviors. In Churches a person can often observe men starring at women
and almost without fail the men will say, “I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm just looking,” or “I only looked
once,” or “God made women to be looked at,” really? God made women for his fellowship. All women that are not our
wives are to be treated as sisters and mothers. Is that the way we look at our sisters and our mothers? No! Are we
forgiven for sin that we have justified? No! We are forgiven when we confess our sin. Making excuses is not how
sin is dealt with. Sin is removed by our confession-repentance and through the blood and death of Jesus.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but
smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I (Jesus) tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteht himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted. ~ Luke 18:13-14

Our sins are unacceptable to God, so let's not create excuses and try to make them acceptable. Fortunately, we do not have to justify ourselves. We become justified when we humble ourselves, admit our sins and exalt God in His resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus.

King

King See also Priest, Prophet - Jesus Christ it the Only person to hold all three Divine Offices of King, Prophet and Priest

First Use:Genesis 10:8-10 And Cush (one of Noah's' three sons) begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter (chaser, chaser of sin) before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his Kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar (Babylon-[modern day Iraq]).

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here. Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. ~ John 18:36-37

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise, God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Timothy 1:17

King is the highest office of rule and authority. Jesus occupies the office of King just as He also occupies the other two Biblical offices of Priest and Prophet. A functioning kingdom has all three offices filled King, High Priest and Prophet. If the people did not have a king they would not have common rule and would not be a united people. If the people did not have a high priest they would not be in interaction with God and if the people did not have a prophet God would not be in interaction with the people.

First Use:Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge (Hebrew, cunning; Greek, experience) of good (moral) and evil.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:10

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge (epiginosko) of His will in all wisdom and Spiritual
understanding. ~ Colossians 1:9

Knowledge is understanding and insight into the world in which we exist. Since we exist in a world created and dominated by God, knowledge is the understanding of God. The Bible has many different words that are translated into the one English word knowledge. The words for knowledge have a wide range of meaning including morals, insight, understanding, thought, reason, experience etc..

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known (ginosko, experienced) it (the peace of God), they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:8

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know (ginosko, experience) them because they are Spiritually
discerned (lacking). ~ 1 Corinthians 2:14

_Ginosko_ is the most common Greek word for knowledge and it usually means knowledge gained through experience or participation. For instance, there is knowledge to be gained in reading about how to drive a car. There is also “ginosko” knowledge to be gained by actually getting in the driver's seat and driving a car. Then we could also experience a host of driving conditions like freeway traffic, storms, scenic roads etc.

Know (eido, perceive) ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16

_Eido_ is the Greek word for perception to perceive or have intuition, including God given discernment. We do not want to have to experience everything in life, especially since the fruit of both good (moral) and evil experiences are present. We can perceive many things that would be harmful and dangerous to us and we can also perceive many things that would be good for us. Eido is perception and discernment knowledge. We might meet someone and through perception realize that this is a beneficial encounter or perhaps we perceive warning signs and do not allow the relationship to continue.

And Jesus, immediately knowing (epiginosko, above knowledge) in Himself that virtue (dunamis, power) had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press (crowd) and said, Who touched My
clothes? ~ Mark 5:30

… for by the law is the knowledge (epiginosko, above knowledge) of sin. ~ Romans 3:20

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge (epiginosko, above knowledge) after the image of Him (Jesus) that created him (new man, Christian): ~ Colossians 3:10

_Epiginosko_ is the Greek word for strong knowledge, knowledge from above. Sometimes we just know, strongly that certain Verses in the Bible apply in our lives at a particular time. We also might strongly know the person we are to marry, a job we are to perform, or a project we are to complete for God. This strong knowledge should be knowledge from God. Before we strongly commit to anything, we should take all the necessary precautions and steps of prayer, fellowship, discernment and Bible study necessary to confirm Gods' desires.

One thing about strong knowledge is that it is usually strong for a reason. Often where there is strong knowledge it is because God knows that there is also going to be strong resistance from people and or circumstances. When we have a strong knowledge of what we should do, we should thoroughly consider it and we should thoroughly write it down and write down the Bible Verses and the insight we have into our thoughts and decisions. Then if the strong opposition comes into what we are doing and attempting to do we can look back and re-read what the clear goal is and this will help us to stay focused. The Apostle Paul had strong knowledge that he was to go to Rome and witness of Jesus before Cesar. But Paul at First had no idea that he would go there as a prisoner in chains and of all the hardships and loss of personal freedom that he would suffer. Though many tried to dissuade Paul, he knew what God desired of him and Paul accomplished what God had for him to do.

These are only some of the Greek words used for knowledge. The Hebrew Old Testament words for knowledge also have varied meanings other than the one English word for knowledge.

Law - Conformity

Law - Conformity see also Legalism
Grace - Individuality

Nomos (G3551) to give out, to be used, like giving out food and land to cattle
Verses - Psalms 1:2; Proverbs 6:23; Romans 2:12 3:31; Galatians 2:16; 1 John 3:4
First Use:Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man (Adam) saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge (experience) of good and evil,
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (separate from God).

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it [inheritance] to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ~ Galatians 3:18-19

Law commandments are instruction from God. God's laws are universal to all mankind. God's laws are not
suggestions. They are how the universe operates. For instance the laws of physics are discovered laws of God.
Gravity, chemistry, biology and other physical laws are laws of God. Likewise, sin resulting in death is a
spiritual law of God. The law of liberty in Christ Jesus is another law of God as well. If we mix chemicals
together God's laws will determine the outcome. If we acknowledge Jesus, just as certain as any observed chemical
reaction the law of completion in Christ Jesus will result since it is a law of God and dictates how the universe
operates.

The laws of the Old Testament are usually written in the negative, ” Thou shall not steal,“ not lie, not covet, etc. The laws in the New Testament are usually written in the positive, thou shall love God, preach, teach, baptize, etc. The Biblical laws are just as powerful as the observable laws of nature and there is a definite result whether the laws are obeyed or disobeyed.

The law encompasses many concepts. First, the law is the character and essence of God. The law describes God.
God is not a liar, not a thief, not a murder therefore lying, theft and murder are against the law. The law
reveals to us who God is and how we are to behave in a manner compatible with God. Jesus did not come to follow
the law, Jesus is the embodiment of the law. The law commands that if a Jew touches a dead body they will become
unclean. Jesus, a Jew, touched a dead body, Jesus didn't become unclean as the law stated for a person, instead
the dead body became alive having been touched by God.

Since the law describes the nature and character of God, following Jesus is following and fulfilling the law.
It is sort of like this; let's say my car broke down (sin) and I needed transportation (Jesus). A friend (prophet)
tells me that I can use his car (Jesus). The friend (prophet) writes directions to the car and a description of
the car and also where the keys to the car are and any instructions about the car. The instructions are a type of
law but they are not the car. The instructions will not drive me down the highway of life. The instructions if I
believe them and follow them will take me to the car (Jesus). The car is my destination. Once I have the car I the
instructions are not obsolete, they help me to stay on track. If I parked the car and forgot where it was or even
if I forgot if it was a car, a small truck or a van then I could refer to the law to get re-acquainted with the
vehicle. Then while I'm being taken along the highway of life I can still refer to the law (instruction) to learn
about the car since the instructions resemble the car.

The Laws of God are not bad. The law, by telling us that we are wrong, convicts us. This is not wrong and does
not make the law bad it makes the law the truth. If I were a banker and I told someone that their check bounced
and that they are bankrupt I'm just the messenger telling them something they didn't know. I didn't bankrupt them.
If I were able to point them in the right direction from there, then I would also be instructive and helpful. The
laws of the Bible are instructive and helpful. All of the laws of the Bible are instructive and helpful in
pointing us to Jesus.

Legalism

Legalism see also Grace - Individuality; Law - Conformity

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer (allow) ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte (convert) and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. ~ Matthew 23:12-13-15

And He (Jesus) said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers (interrupters of the law)! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your
fingers. ~ Luke 11:46

Come unto Me (Jesus), all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30

The law reveals us as sinners and God as Savior. Legalism is the law without a savior. The law instructs us but it does not empower us. The law says “do not murder” but the law does not put it's arm around us and comfort us to take away the anger that causes the desire to murder, God in Spirit does this for us. The law points us to God; it is God that has a relationship with us. A legalist has taken away the guiding, comforting Spirit of God and strictly has the heavy burdens of law and man.

Legalism is the dreaded result of focusing on laws and man's rules instead of focusing on a relationship with Jesus. The Bible is written by God to give insight into every circumstance humans will encounter. The Bible says to be still and hear God. It also says to go out into all the world. Well, sometimes we need to be still and sometimes we need to go out and sometimes we need to go out and be still. Seeking Jesus determines the result and having Him reveal what is right at the right time. A legalist, not focusing on Jesus, will use the same Verses of the Bible in all circumstances thus giving people the added burden of following the legalist and trying to follow Jesus.

Legalism is a lack of faith in God. A legalist sees the obvious like a person who smokes cigarettes. The legalist does not have the faith in God to let God deal with the person. Instead the legalist will determine what is wrong (always looking for the bad instead of the positive) like smoking or whatever is wrong then the legalist will place all kinds of burdens on the smoker to attempt to get them to stop. Focusing on our problems is a guaranteed way to fail. Biblically, we focus on Jesus. Where the legalist is working on the outside, the Holy Spirit of God is working on the inside of us and God might be saying, “lets work on the relationship with your Mother, or your sister and we will deal with that and the smoking issue will come into line later”. We will never know how God is working in our lives if we listen to other people and don't listen and look to God.

First Use:Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless and the steward of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?

For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:26

(Jesus) Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? Thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord (true owner) hath need of him. ~ Luke 19:30-31

Lord is an old English word that signified a person of high stature one that owns land, has possessions and is able to exercise authority and control over his holdings. The lord was in contrast to the “surf” or peasant. The peasant did not have possessions and usually worked the land for the lord, paying a tax or portion of the product to the lord. A part of the concept of the owner is “authority”. Authority comes from the word “author,” an author being an inventor or creator, the conceiver of the idea. Having invented or created the concept, the author then has authority/ownership, lordship over what he has brought into existence.

The Bible often translates different words into one English word. For example, there are several Hebrew and Greek words for the words knowledge, love, see, hear, yet the differing words are translated into one English word that has the basic meaning of the word being translated. There are two Hebrew words that are both translated into the English word Lord. The First word is Yahweh. Yahweh is a word that means self-existing God, that God exists because of His own abilities. God does not rely on food, air, water, warmth, etc. to exist. God exists under His own authority and power. In the better Bibles Yahweh is translated with larger or capital letters like LORD in order to differentiate Yahweh from the Hebrew word Adonai which means owner. Adonai is then translated as Lord. Lord as owner is a word that is used for both God and people, but LORD, self-existing one, is exclusively used for God.

Love - Commitment

Love - Commitment see also Lust

Agapao (G25) [Verb] to love, highest commitment
Agape (G26) [Noun] love, highest commitment, unselfish love
Philadelpheia (G5360) “Philadelphia” brotherly love, kindness
Phielo (G5368) affectionate, emotional
Verses - Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 5:44; Romans 5:5; James 2:5; Revelation 2:4 3:19
First Use:Genesis 22:2 And He (God) said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the
mountains which I will tell thee of.

This is the definition of love. Abraham is acting out the love that God
has for us, that one day at the same mountain location, God the Father would offer His beloved only Son Jesus for
us, that we might live. It was necessary for Abraham to enact this out so when the actual sacrifice of Jesus
occurred, we would fully understand that the cross is an act of love from both the Father and the Son.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

Love is a commitment. God in His love for us, committed His life to us on the cross that we could enter into a committed relationship of love with Him. Love is a commitment for good; love seeks the highest good for the other person. God in His love on the cross was seeking the highest good for us, a life in God. Love is not selfish love is a relationship of commitment.

and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not love I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: ~ 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1-8

God's love for us is complete. It is impossible for God to love us more than He already does. It is also impossible for God to love us less then He already does. If we were to go out into the streets and carry a sign that says repent and tell people all day long about the glorious plan that God has for their life, God would not love us any more than He already does. If we sin and totally blow it before man, God and the angels of heaven, God would not love us any less than He already does. God's love for us is complete it is not conditional and is not determined by our actions.

We cannot win or lose God's love, we can only acknowledge God's love.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect (complete), that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love but perfect (complete) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect (complete) in love. We love Him because He First loved us. ~ 1 John 4:16-19

First Use:Exodus 15:9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

I made a covenant with mine eyes: why then should I think upon a maid. ~ Job 31:1

But I (Jesus) say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ~ Matthew 5:28

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. ~ James 1:13-15

Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. ~ 1 Timothy 5:1-3

The Holy Spirit is telling us that the only proper interaction with women that we are not married to is the same interaction that we would have with our mothers and our sisters. This is not negotiable there are no exceptions and no First glances or so called innocent looking.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity (love), peace, with them that call on the Lord out of pure heart. ~ 2 Timothy 2:20-22

The disciple John exhorts us:

And now, little children, abide in Him (Jesus); that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ~ 1 John 2:28

First Use:Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness … So God created man (mankind) in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Both men and women are created in the image of God. The image of God is the ability to think, reason, show emotion and have a relationship. God is not a man nor is God a woman. God is Spirit John 4:24 and exists in the spirit realm.

We are created in God's image meaning that we have part of the emotions of God. God is more than we are. God is more capable, more complex, more complicated, more competent and more complete than we
are.

Mankind means “man faced” or appearing as a man. Mankind includes both men and women. Men think, reason and desire differently than women think, reason and desire. Men and women are different from each other but God encompasses all of our legitimate emotions. Our emotions are no longer pure. They are confused and tainted by sin. God has much larger emotions, thoughts, knowledge, desires, loves, pains and hurts than we will ever have. God is neither a man nor a woman. God is greater than both combined. Angels can take on the appearance of a man and are sometimes referred to as men, “the man Gabriel”. Mankind does not exclusively mean human. It can mean in appearance as a human.

Adam is the First human mankind; all people are descendants of Adam. Humans are God's creation and are created in the image of God. Like Adam, humans reunited with God, receive from God a new body, an inheritance in the kingdom of God and sonship, becoming a family member in the family of God.

Adam is a unique creation of God; therefore Adam is a son of God. Luke 3:38 which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

As a son of God, Adam would have three benefits. First, he would have a unique body (abode/dwelling place) created by God. Second, as a son Adam would receive an inheritance and third Adam as a son (family member) would have the pleasure to live in the visible presence of God. The angels have already received all of these benefits. With sin Adam fell from being in the family of God. With redemption at the cross of Jesus, all mankind that confesses God are redeemed back into the family of God.

Abode/Body:
Adam was created in a unique physical body out of the dust of the earth. Then he was created in the Spiritual image of God and Adam became a living soul. After the sin of disobedience Adam became physically separated form God. The physical body of Adam became a bearer of sin and with sin death. God is holy and will not fellowship with sin.

Mankind is currently physically separated from God. The life we live with God we live by faith. We are not physically aware of God's presence. In order for God to re-establish fellowship with man where mankind is aware of the presence of God, God established a relationship with man in the Spiritual realm. Sin is maintained in our physical bodies. After physical death, our spirit and soul enter into the visible presence of God and the sons of God will receive a new spiritual body, a new dwelling place for our existing human spirit and soul. Because our spirit and soul live on, Jesus is always instructing and working with our “inner person”. When we get to heaven we will have the same soul and spirit, we will still have many of the same thoughts and emotions therefore, it is the highest priority of the Christian on earth to mold our spirit and soul into a compatible existence with God in heaven.

Inheritance:
God gave Adam and Eve dominion (rule) over the earth. They were not given the earth as an inheritance. The meek shall inherit the earth but so far the earth has remained the sole possession of God.

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. ~ Psalms 24:12

Inheritance is a function of sonship. When the believer enters into the presence of God we will inherit a dwelling place (body) and we will also inherit living space and we will also
inherit opportunity, things to do, all in the new Spiritual kingdom of Jesus.

Family with God:
When Adam and Eve sinned they became dead/removed from the family of God. God then came to them and calling to them He sought them out. God said that He would come in the seed of a woman and redeem mankind back to God. God has come as Jesus and He redeemed believing mankind back to Himself. All believers who acknowledge God as their Father are family members of God. As family members we have the privileges of being family. A servant or a hired helper comes only to work and then when the time comes the servant leaves. A family member stays and enjoys the company and fellowship of the family members.

First Use:Genesis 4:15 … And the LORD set a mark upon Cain … {This mark from the LORD was for Cain's protection. Satan is out to Counterfeit the actions of God therefore Satan wants to put his evil mark on people, marking people for his destruction.}

It is the plan of God to mark His people with His distinction and in marking them to set them apart, apart form the world and gathered together unto God.

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon He was, to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and _set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof_. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: _but come not near any man upon whom is the mark_; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house (Temple). ~ Ezekiel 9:3-6

Satan is not original in his plans he is simply out to imitate God by seeking the worship that belongs to God and he is attempting to corrupt the true things of God. Therefore Satan has his own version of a mark and his Satanic version is referred to as “The mark of the beast”.

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, _which had the wound by a sword, and did live_. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, _to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads_: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred (600) threescore (60) and six (6) - [666]. ~ Revelation 13:14-18

There are at least three aspects to the mark of the Beast as explained in the book of Revelation it is an actual mark or marking and it is also an Image (Icon) a representation of the Antichrist (Satan) himself and it is represented in his personal name of, emptiness, which is referenced by the number 666.

It is important to note that as a Mark and an Icon it is a representation of an actual person and of an actual event (the event of the fake resurrection of the Antichrist), meaning that the person and the event must first come then the Icon follows to commemorate/represent what has already occurred. This means that the mark is not available prior to the Antichrist therefore eliminating any existing objects like, credit cards, social security numbers or computer chips from being the mark of the beast.

The event that Satan is commemorating by offering his mark is his own fake, arranged death and resurrection. That's right, Satan in being the Antichrist is attempting to counterfeit and copy what Jesus has already done for real in His Atoning death and His Sanctifying resurrection.

And I saw one of his heads as it were _wounded to death_; _and his deadly wound was healed_: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and _they worshipped the beast_, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? ~ Revelation 13:3-4

Worship is to acknowledge where our life comes from. Jesus proved His claim to be the source of all life by His Resurrection after His death on the cross. Satan is going to attempt to stage the death of a person and will then possess this dead or near dead person enacting out a counterfeit resurrection. A resurrection that will give Satan a claim that he is a creator of life and this is to be the cause of the worship to Satan and it is Satan's resurrection and his false claim that he is the giver of eternal life that his mark, icon, and name (666) are commemorating and representing. In fact the response from God to the fake resurrection of the antichrist is to send an angel to proclaim that mankind is to Worship God and God only as God is the Creator and sustainer of all life.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach (The Church has been Raptured into heaven therefore an angel is giving the message) unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and _worship Him that made heaven, and earth_, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon (modern Iraq rebuilt) is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (false religion). And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation (wrath); and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. ~ Revelation 14:6-11

The mark of the beast is the Satanic counterfeit to the “Born Again” Spirit and condition of the Christian. [Note at this future time the Christian Church will have been Raptured and will be in heaven. This fake mark will only be an option to those who are still left on the earth and have not yet become Martyred Saints.]

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death (separation); because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. ~ Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Just as the Christian Receives the Holy Spirit from God as a seal a mark of belonging to God, in the future Satan will counterfeit the “Born Again” condition of the Christian with his own Satanic version. Remember that the issue here is Eternal Life and who can provide it the God who Created Life or the counterfeit and lies of Satan. Satan's counterfeit mark is the promise to offer eternal life yet Satan is not God and does not have the ability to fulfill his promises and likewise Satan is not God and does not have the Triune nature of God therefore Satan cannot give a holy spirit so continuing his counterfeit Satan seals the initiate with a demonic spirit. It is this sad and permanent spiritual marriage/matting between the human and the demonic spirit [Nirvana] that so alters the human that the human is no longer in the image that God created the human to be in and is now therefore incapable of ever receiving salvation from God. The human with the mark of Satan has forfeited any opportunity to receive Salvation from God.

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and _whosoever receiveth the mark of his name_. ~ Revelation 14:11

This demonic infusion (mingling - Nirvana) into the human spirit and soul by the human receiving the mark of the beast is best explained by the Old Testament Prophet Daniel.

And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the (Satanic) kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron [demons] mixed with miry (bad/useless) clay [people], _they (demons) shall mingle themselves with the seed (soul) of men_: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven {return and} set up a Kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the Kingdom shall not be left to other (non-Christian) people, … ~ Daniel 2:42-45

Martyr

First Use:Genesis 21:30 And he (Abraham) said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou (Abimelech, king of Gerar) take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this
well.

And when the blood of they martyr (witness) Stephen was shed, I (Saul, later Apostle Paul) also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him. ~ Acts 22:20

And said (Jesus) unto them (disciples), Thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses (Martus) of these things. ~ Luke 24:46-48

Martyr means witness. Nearly every place in the Bible where the English word witness is used, the original Greek word is “martus.” We tend to think of a Christian becoming a martyr by giving their life as a witness of Jesus and of the resurrection of life to come. Actually every Christian is a martyr or a witness. It just happens that this is the last act of witness for some Christians. ~ Luke 24:46-48

Martyred Saints of Revelation

Martyred Saints of Revelation see also Church, Jews

There are three groups of redeemed people mentioned in the Bible regarding the last days (days since the First coming of Jesus). The Jews, the Church and the future Martyred Saints, mentioned in the book of Revelation, are these three groups.

And when He (Jesus) had opened the fifth seal, I (Disciple John) saw under the altar the souls of them (Martyred Saints) that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony
(confession of the resurrection of Jesus) which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying How long, O Lord, holy and true, doust thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto everyone of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season {about 7 years} until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. ~ Revelation 6:9-11

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: ~ Revelation 17:6

The future Martyred Saints are a unique group of redeemed people. Currently while the Church exists on earth there are two groups of redeemed, the Jews and the Church. At the end of the Church age the redeemed will be in the two categories of Jew and Martyred Saint. The distinction between the Church and the Martyred Saints is, to become a part of the Church we confess Jesus and believe in His resurrection.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart _that God hath raised Him from the dead_, thou shalt be saved. ~ Romans 10:9

This confession makes us a member of God's Church family. The Martyred Saints become a Martyred Saint when the enemies of God kill them.

Jesus gave a promise regarding the disciple Peter's confession of Jesus being God, that whoever maintained the same confession that Peter confessed would be a part of the Church and that the Church would not be overcome.

He (Jesus) saith unto them (disciples), But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon (Peter, rock) Bar-jona (son of grace): for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (rock) and
upon this rock {confession} I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ~ Matthew 16:15-18

While the Church exists on earth the Church will not be overcome. The Church will always exist until the moment when Jesus comes and takes the Church [Christians] to heaven in an event referred to as the “rapture of the Church”. The future Martyred Saints live after the Church in a time when God will give authority to the coming Antichrist to overcome the saints that live on earth.

And it was given unto him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations. ~ Revelation 13:7

The Church did not always exist. The Church did not exist during the Old Testament times and the Church will not exist on earth after the rapture. The Church began on the day of the resurrection of Jesus when Jesus baptized the disciples with His Spirit (breath) in the upper room. The Church will no longer be on earth but many people on earth will still be redeemed and will still have a relationship with God. This group of post Church redeemed people will be the Martyred Saints.

The Martyred Saints are divided into two groups; the First group is killed because they believe the word of God (Bible) and they have the testimony that Jesus is alive, that He has resurrected from death.

And they overcame him (Satan) _by the blood of the Lamb_ (Jesus) and _by the word of their testimony_; and they loved not their lives unto the death. ~Revelation 12:11

Later the second group of Martyred Saints are killed for the same reasons as the First group and for wisely not accepting the mark of the beast given by the Antichrist and his followers.

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast [Antichrist] and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name,
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. ~ Revelation 15:2

Together these two large groups of killed people comprise the Martyred Saints of Revelation.

Mediator

A mediator is the contact between two parties

Mesites (G3316) reconciler, intercessor, mediator, go-between, confirmer
Verses - Romans 8:26-27,34; Galatians 3:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25 8:6 9:15 12:24
First Use:Isaiah 59:16 And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness it sustained Him.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Timothy 2:5

A mediator is the contact between two parties that are not in direct communications with each other. It is absolutely necessary that the mediator have access to both parties otherwise the mediator is ineffective and cannot mediate. The mediator is far more than a messenger (Angel). Where a messenger (Angel) would simply deliver the message, the mediator is a counselor, a voice of reason. The mediator has a grasp of the situation and of the grievances the mediator has the vision to overcome the difficulty and the mediator has a desire to end the dispute and unite the two parties.

Jesus is the mediator between God and man. Because Jesus is God and Jesus has come as a man Jesus is able to effectively mediate between the two parties. Jesus is performing the most difficult mediation. The relationship between man and God is so broken that many people refuse to even acknowledge the existence of God. Jesus has accomplished much of His mediation through the written Holy Bible, revealing who God is to mankind. At the cross Jesus, God in man, mediated peace to mankind. Jesus continues to mediate to a disobedient mankind. God the Holy Spirit also facilitates Jesus in order to bring mankind into a relationship with God.

The LORD (Yahweh) hath sworn and will not repent, Thou (Jesus) art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~ Psalms 110:4

Though He (Jesus) were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect (complete), He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey Him; Called of God a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec [Greek]. ~ Hebrews 5:8-10

Melchizedek is a name of God just like Elohiem, Yahweh, Adonai, Jesus etc. are also names of God. Melchizedek is not the title of a king like the word President is a title, Melchizedek is a name of God and the name means Melek - King, Tsedeq - righteousness, Melchizedek means King of Righteousness, God is the one and only King of Righteousness.

Melchizedek is a priest to God. A priest is someone chosen by God that has access to God. Melchizedek being God has access to Himself, therefore Melchizedek is a priest. All priests are appointed by God. Nobody can decide to be a priest on their own. In the Old Testament God chose the family of Levi to be the priests. Only a person physically born into the family of Levi is eligible to be a Levitical priest.

Like the required genealogy for the Levitical priesthood, the Melchizedek priesthood also has a strict gemology required to be a Melchizedek priest. The requirement to be a Melchizedek priest is to be eternal, “having neither beginning, of days, nor end of life”. Not many people have the genealogy of endless life to be a Melchizedek priest. In fact, humans are not eligible to be a Melchizedek priest. Only God the Father, God the Holy Spirit and Jesus have the genealogy required to be a Melchizedek priest.

For this Melchisedec, king Salem (peace), priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and (Melchisedec) blessed him (Abraham); To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; First being by interpretation King of righteousness and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. ~ Hebrews 7:1-3

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; {the tribe/family of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Judah means “Praise” in Hebrew} of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning
priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest (Jesus), who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of endless life. ~ Hebrews 7:14-17

It is this endless life of Jesus that qualifies Jesus to be a Melchizedek priest as opposed to a human Levitical priest.

By so much was Jesus made a surety (guaranteed payment) of a better testament. And they (Levitical priests) truly were many priests, because they were not suffered (allowed) to continue by
reason of death (physical death): But this man (Jesus as priest) because He continueth ever (forever), hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them (sinners) to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever (forever) liveth to make intercession for them (sinners). ~ Hebrews 7:22-25

Jesus is our High Priest. He is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, (King of Righteousness) a position Jesus is able to hold because God appointed Him to it, Psalms 110:4 and because Jesus has the genealogy of a Melchizedek that He exists eternally. Therefore, Jesus is able to eternally be our priest. We will never have another priest and we will never be separated from our glorious High Priest, Jesus.

Mind is our reason, our thought, our intellect. It is through our mind that we interact both with man and with God. Our mind is not just our brain. We are not chemical, biological, beings, we are spiritual beings. The brain represents our mind in the physical realm, but cognizant (self awareness), memory, thought, conscience, reason, intellect, rational, creativity, etc. are functions of our soul and our spirit and not products of chemical reactions.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect, will of God. ~ Romans 12:2

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man [old unsaved ways], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. ~ Ephesians 4:22-23

Minister

Minister a servant

Diakonia (G1248) “Deacon”, servant Lit. Table waiter
Leitourgia (G3009) “Liturgy”, public function, public servant
Huperetes (G5257) “Under-rower” Minister, to function and facilitate from a position of serving and supporting, from beneath. Lit. The oarsman that power the ship or boat from a position in the bottom of the boat
Verses - Leviticus 7:35; Matthew 20:28; Acts 13:2; Romans 15:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 3:7; 1 Peter 4:10

First Use:Exodus 24:13 And Moses rose up and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the Mount (Mt. Sinai) of God.

Minister or ministry is the function of service and support. To be a minister is to be a servant.

Then shall they also answer Him, saying Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked or sick, or in prison and did not minister unto thee? ~ Matthew 25:44-46

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ~ James 2:16

Pure religion and undefiled before God is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ~ James 1:27

The opposite of the servant deeds of the minister are the lording over deeds of the Nicolaitanes and the Pharisees.

But this thou (Church of Ephesus) hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I (Jesus) also hate. ~ Revelation 2:6

So hast thou (Church of Pergamos) also them (members) that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I (Jesus) hate. ~ Revelation 2:15

Jesus died to set us free. This freedom includes freedom from religious confinements that keep us separated from Jesus.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ. ~ Colossians 2:8

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ~ Galatians 5:1

It is interesting that when the early Church was gathered together, their main function was to minister to Jesus.

Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas and Simeon that was called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul (Apostle Paul). As they ministered to the Lord. … Acts 13:1-3

Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in
distresses, in stripes (whippings), in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings (looking for the return of Jesus), in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness… ~ 2 Corinthians 6:3-4

First Use:Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters and said, Up, get you out of this place (Sodom); for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Knowing this First, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts and saying, Where is the promise of His (Jesus) coming? ~ 2 Peter 3:3-4

Mocking is to ridicule. People mock what they do not understand. Mocking is a way to deal with something different. Mocking is the age-old technique of knocking something else in an attempt to establish yourself. Mocking in no way establishes the ridiculer. Instead, the mocker is just defacing them self.

Mocking encompasses a wide range of offenses. When someone is presented with a new idea or a new concept and especially if the person finds the new idea to challenge his or her existing beliefs, a common reaction is to ridicule the new concept. This often light mocking is a test to find out more and to determine the conviction of the person presenting the new idea. This type of mocking is only a barrier of defense that the person is putting up in order to delay making a decision and to find out more about the topic.

The more that a person knows about the topic and the more the person has rejected the topic, usually the more critical and dangerous the mocking becomes. For example a person that has grown up with strict religion may know something about the Bible. Having rejected the Bible the person when mocking can be very devastating because they have an agenda against the subject.

A person that has been a Christian and maybe even a Pastor or a teacher and has rejected Christianity for any of a variety of reasons, then has the real potential to become an enemy of the cross of Jesus. Many people that have left the faith have done so because they had certain expectations and then felt that God did not honor their expectations. This is very dangerous. Nowhere does the Bible tell us to have any worldly expectations. To have worldly expectations is to set ourselves up for worldly disappointment. It is unfair and unjust to then transfer our disappointment in the world to disappointment in God. A person who has done this is usually out to demonstrate their disappointment and mocking is a favored technique.

Mocking is seldom if ever the truth. In fact, mocking is an abstract. Mocking should never be taken seriously as factual. Since mocking is how other people express their views, it is a way to learn the views of others and it should inspire us to further the knowledge of our belief in God and the Bible. Remember mocking means that they are unfamiliar, unknowledgeable and uncomfortable with the presented topic. Do not give mocking the credibility that the person is seeking.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned. But he that is
Spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

New Testament

The New Testament - New Covenant by the Blood of Jesus Christ between God and Mankind

First Use:Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel (Northern Ten Tribes) and with the House of Judah (Southern Two Tribes).

And He (Jesus) took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:27-28

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us
able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. ~ 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

New Covenant is the contract relationship that God has established with His covenant people the Jews. The Contract is that when God looks at a person God does not see any of the sins of that person, God only sees the righteousness of Jesus. Jesus has substituted His righteousness for our sin. Because the new covenant is a contract it is required to be entered into by both parties. God entered into the agreement and then proceeded to the cross. It is now the responsibility of each individual to enter into the covenant relationship with God by confessing that Jesus is the righteousness for our own individual sins.

The New Covenant is a contract between God and the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This is not a contract with the Gentiles of the nations. God does not have any covenants with the Gentiles, all of His covenants are with the Jews. The Gentiles of the nations enter into the New Covenant by the shed blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus removed the barrier wall that kept the Gentiles apart from the covenants of God. Gentiles do not become Jews, Gentiles do not need to become circumcised to enter into the covenants God has with Israel. Gentiles become Christians a new identity that is separate from Jewishness and Gentiles.

The New Covenant, which is the only covenant to totally take away sin was enacted at the Passover “Last Supper” the evening that Jesus was betrayed by Judas. The New Covenant has several components to it; the covenant between God and man; the shed blood and crucifixion of Jesus; and the resurrection of Jesus from death to reign over His Spiritual kingdom.

In both the Old Testament and the New Testament the sacrifice offering is the key to a relationship between God and man. It is the sacrifice offering that is inspected and is expected to be worthy of the sacrifice. Sheep, bulls and goats that were to be sacrificed had to be without a spot or a blemish, in order to be an acceptable sacrifice. The sinner who is bringing the sacrifice is never examined because it is known and understood that the sinner is a sinner. Only the sacrifice is examined for suitability not the person offering the sacrifice. Once the offering is deemed acceptable the sinner establishes a relationship with God. God desired a relationship with us so He took on the form of a human to become the acceptable sacrifice. We know that Jesus' sacrifice for us was completely acceptable to the Father because only acceptable sacrifices are received up into heaven, where Jesus is today. Now in the New Covenant it is not what we do for God that makes us acceptable to God, it is what Jesus did for us, that makes us acceptable to God.

Obedience

Obedience is first Hearing then Understanding then Obeying the Biblical Voice and Commands of God

Hupakoe (G5218) Hupo - under; Akouo - hear with understanding, attentive; to be under the authority of another to hear with understanding, hearing and following the leadership of another

First Use:Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed (Jesus) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. ~ Genesis 27:8

Obedience means to hear, to understand and to accomplish what was heard and understood. Obedience comes from hearing and understanding. We must First hear the voice of God before we can obey God. Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Hearing God is a common Biblical theme included in the Book of Revelation.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle (sent out one, missionary), separated unto the gospel (good news) of God… By whom we have received grace (individuality) and
apostleship (sent out), for obedience to the faith among all the nations. ~ Romans 1:1-5

Paul is being sent out to instruct the nations to be obedient to the faith. Faith specifically means the resurrection of Jesus. So we are to be obedient to the resurrected Jesus. Obedience is an interesting concept. We become obedient to God by following God, not by following rules.

This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit [Holy Spirit] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith. ~ Galatians 3:2

The Bible is a living document; God's words are life. Many situations in the Bible are covered on both sides. The same Bible that tells us to cast out the unbeliever also tells us to allow the wheat and tares to remain together. So what do we become obedient to? If we kick someone out are we obedient? If we let them stay are we obedient? That depends. We can only be obedient by being obedient to God. If someone says the Bible says this, yes it does, but do we apply that particular verse to this circumstance. The answer is that we need God to interpret His Word for us. What we do to be obedient in any given situation is to pray (talk to) and ask God for guidance. He will reveal through the words of the Bible what His desire is for any given situation.

It is very important to follow Jesus because it is easy to follow rules. When we follow rules, we then bend and form the rules that we follow to conform to our desires and then we are not even following rules; we are following ourselves, it is just cloaked in the appearance of rules. Then it is not enough that we follow our own rules we demand that others follow our rules. If people are following us and our rules there is no way that they can be following Jesus. When we commit ourselves or others to follow rules we are distracting others and ourselves from following Jesus.

The Bible is not a collection of rules nor is it a collection of suggestions. The Bible covers a panorama of thought and conduct to be combined in obedience. For example there is a disturbance among a gathering. It has to be dealt with. The Bible gives us the freedom to deal with the circumstances. But conduct alone does not constitute obedience. Whether in discipline someone is asked to leave or is permitted to remain, the act has to be carried out in obedience to God's reconciliation love.

First Use:Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom and He has stretched out the heavens by His discretion. ~ Jeremiah 10:12

Omnipotent is to be all-powerful, all capable. Also capable is like a master or a genius that is not limited in their chosen profession. A master artist is someone that is capable of producing the exact picture they desire to paint. A master artist is not limited in color selection he can mix colors to produce just the color he desires. The master artist is capable in every brush stroke to achieve the desired effect. A master achieves the desired effect by possessing ability. The opposite would be someone who just “wings it”. Some events turn out desirable and some don't. A master has perfected his occupation and does not rely on trial and error but knows the end result prior to the event.

God by definition is all-powerful. If God were not all-powerful, then whatever is more powerful would be God.

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel and His Redeemer the LORD of Hosts; I am the First and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. ~ Isaiah 44:6

God has declared in His Word that He is God alone and above all. The really amazing thing is that God, who is so amazing, would want a relationship with us.

And I saw Thrones, and They [Father, Son, Holy Spirit] sat upon them, and [all knowing - all present] judgment was given unto Them: and I saw the souls of them [Martyred Saints of Revelation] that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word (Bible) of God [the first 3 1/2 years of Tribulation], and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [the second 3 1/2 years (shortened) of Tribulation]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the Thousand Years [The 1,000 Year Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ on Earth] were finished. This is the first resurrection. ~ Revelation 20:4-5

Omnipresence is to be present and aware at all locations at once. This is more than being a big God as we would think of physically big. A physical object like a lake, a river, or an ocean is many places at once. The Pacific Ocean is at California and it is also at Australia at the same time. But the Pacific Ocean is not in its totality at all places at once. God is not physical. He is Spirit in existence. Being Spiritual and being God, He is at all places in His entirety at once.

God is completely with every human in every place at once. But it is more than just being everywhere at once. God is also everywhere in eternity at once. God is currently present in the past. He is currently present and He is currently present in the future. God has reveled one of His names to man as “I am”. I am is a “being verb”. Only things that currently exist, that have being can be “I am”. God is the “I am” of eternity. He exists separate from our physical time. He is I am at all times and in all places. In the book of Revelation the Disciple John is brought to the future and shown future events. The disciple was brought into the Spirit realm and the disciple witnessed the actual events that are future in our physical time yet God is already “I am” at the future events of mankind.

There is a theory in science that says if something is not observed it doesn't exist. A few hundred years ago craters on the moon did not exist because man did not know about them. Now they exist because man has observed them. This is like the old saying “if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it fall, does it make a sound”. Since no human heard the tree fall then to humans the tree fell silently. I could go to the Nobel science board and claim that I should receive the Nobel Prize because I have discovered a new planet in our solar system or a new cure for a disease. The scientist would tell me to “show them” my discovery because unless what I have discovered is made visible or the effects of it are visible then “it doesn't exist”. Unless someone sees the object or hears the noise then it doesn't exist to man. But the truth is that the tree that fell did make a noise.

Medicines do exist apart from the knowledge of man and angels exist. Since things currently exist, someone has to confirm their existence by observing and hearing the effects of their existence. That someone is God. God confirms the existence of every occurrence in existence. Man doesn't have to hear the tree fall to confirm that it made a noise God has observed and confirmed it. While we live on earth we are taking part in God's creation. Anything we take part in we are sharing the experience with God. God is already watching the same tree we are.

There is another part to the theory. It says that when you do observe something, you cannot observe it in its natural state. If I were at work and a friend or a family member or a boss came in and observed me work, would I be able to work the same natural way as when I wasn't being observed? No. Observation affects my behavior. This is why we usually are not aware that God is watching over us, even though God is always watching over us for our benefit and because He loves us. God created us to be natural and God wants us to be natural in our life, to take natural actions and live as we naturally are. But, then God also wants us to be aware of Him. It is being aware of God that gives us a relationship with God. And being aware of God causes us to turn from sin. People sin because they are unaware of God. When we do become aware of God's observing presence, as with any observing presence it has to change our lives. The act of being observed makes us change, being observed by God makes us change for good. Anyone who says they have encountered God and do not have the life changes to supplement this claim may not have encountered the God of the Bible. Experiencing God will change our lives there are no exceptions.

God is at the beginning of our time, He is at the end of our time and He is also with us here and now. God has seen all things, God knows all things and God has complete power over all things. God has declared His creation to be good and pleasing. God is resting in what He has done. Since God is at rest, we might as well join God and rest with Him.

Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. ~ Psalms 147:5

… to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ~ Colossians 2:2-3

Omniscience is all knowledge. God possesses all knowledge. God has all knowledge yet in a wonderful way God has chosen to forget our sins, our offences and our shortcomings and God has chosen to have a relationship with us.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He hath not dealt with us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalms 103:8-12

… and I will remember their sin no more. ~ Jeremiah 31:34

Knowledge is very powerful. Knowledge is the way to freedom. Knowledge can also be the way to bondage. Some people with knowledge of our failures will never let us forget our mistakes. When a person has much wealth, power and knowledge it is a rare event if they avail themselves to someone of a lower stature than themselves. It is wonderful that God possesses all knowledge, all power and has all ability, yet He has lowered Himself to meet us where we are and He seeks to have a relationship with us.

Peace is comfort of the body, soul and the spirit, a well-being and contentment. Peace is the absence of
strife. “Peace” is the Jewish greeting. We say “hello,” the Jew says peace (Shalom), the Greek would say “grace”
(karris). The New Testament often combines the Greek and the Hebrew greetings, grace and peace to you.

… _Grace_ be unto you and _peace_, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:1

But He (Jesus) was wounded (injured) for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement (correction) of our peace (Shalom) was upon Him; and with His
stripes we are healed (cured, made whole). ~ Isaiah 53:5

Peace is precious the cost of peace is high. Our peace cost Jesus His life on the cross. The cost was high but the high price was met and we now, through Jesus, have peace with God, peace with man and peace with ourselves.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Romans 5:1

We have a peace through the cross of Jesus that the world does not comprehend. The world is seeking a false peace. The world is trying to find peace without Jesus. The familiar peace sign of the world is the post with two smaller posts leaning against it at the bottom and a circle surrounds all three posts. The posts look like a “coat rack” or a “chicken track” then a circle surrounds it. These posts are actually the world's symbol of a broken cross. The two smaller posts on the false peace symbol are the cross beams to the cross. If the smaller beams were slid up the post and straightened out horizontally the symbol is the cross. The circle around the false peace sign is the satanic circle. It is the satanic circle of domination and control and it is Satan's trap.

The world sees peace as the absence of Jesus, the absence of the cross. With a broken cross the world has rejected God and God's judgment. The world has made peace with sin. The world claims that Jesus, religion and Christians are the cause of the wars of the world and that man left alone can be peaceful. Nothing could be further from the truth! War is the result of man and sin. Jesus is the true Peace.

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

First Use:Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect (Complete) in his generations {Noah was completely human} and Noah walked with God.

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus. ~ Colossians 1:27-28

For the law made nothing perfect (complete) but the bringing in of a better hope did {the law shows us we are wrong, it condemns us. There is no hope in condemnation. The hope comes from Jesus, who saves us}; by the which we draw near to God. ~ Hebrews 7:19

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect (complete) by the flesh? ~ Galatians 3:3

Perfect means complete. Man is completed in a relationship with God. If a person has God that person is perfect (complete); if a person does not have God, they are imperfect (incomplete). It actually means complete as the end (telios) result. We have received the First fruits of God's Spirit and we are perfect /complete here on earth in our physical bodies. Upon entering the perceivable presence of God, we will be perfected (completed) with a new spiritual body that can endure the direct presence of the Holy God.

The English word perfect has changed over the years. The original meaning of complete has now been replaced by the common usage of the word perfection to mean without mistake. This “without mistake” condition is a condition that the Christian does not attain to. Besides, there is no such thing as perfection in a sinful fallen world. Christianity is about Spiritual life and death; we are either alive to a relationship with God or we are not. Being good, bad, making mistakes, or not making mistakes are in the sense of a relationship with God, irrelevant.

So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. ~ Matthew 22:10

God has invited both the bad and the good to the wedding feast. The truth is that no one is good let alone is there anyone without mistakes. Had God invited only the good then no humans would be able to attend the wedding feast.

Being good or perfect does not make us acceptable to God. In determining if a person is acceptable to God, it is the sacrifice offered to God that is examined, not the person. Jesus is our sacrifice offered to God. If there were a person who lived a mistake free life God would not even notice. God has looked at His Son Jesus to see us; our actions apart from accepting Jesus are irrelevant to making us perfect.

First Use:Genesis 4:5-6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well (diligently), shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not
well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire and thou shalt rule over him.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication (requests) in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. ~ Ephesians 6:18

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience (endurance) of the saints. ~ Revelation 13:10

Perseverance means to be diligent, steadfast, unwavering, patient, enduring, etc. What the Christian is foremost being asked to be steadfast in, is our belief in Jesus. This is not a difficult faith. It is easy to see that humans are not God and it is easy to acknowledge Jesus as God. We persevere in the accomplished work of Jesus. Jesus has already given Himself at the cross. Jesus has already resurrected from the dead. When we entrust our lives to Jesus, He will take care of us. We will put as much effort into our resurrection life as we put into being born physically from our mothers wombs. We didn't sweat being born physically the First time yet God brought it to pass, so there is no reason to sweat being resurrected into a Spiritual body, God will also accomplish it.

Is it the responsibility of the individual person to keep himself or herself in the redemption (returned presence) of God?

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge (precise, discerning knowledge) of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the later end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment (love God with all your heart, mind, strength and to love your neighbor as yourself) delivered unto them. ~ 2 Peter 2:20-21

The Bible is never impressed with how or when a person starts a relationship with God. The Bible is concerned only with the end result (telios) of the persons personal relationship with God.

When the righteous turneth from his righteousness and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel (governed by God), I will judge you every one after his ways. ~ Ezekiel 33:18-20

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ~ 1 John 5:11-12

Life is in Jesus, not in us. We are not capable of sustaining life in ourselves. Therefore we are required to acknowledge and accept whom Jesus is and what He has provided for us in everlasting life.

Two terms that should not be confused are salvation and redemption. Salvation is God's healing work which is begun after redemption.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end (telios) shall be saved (salvation/healed). ~ Matthew 10:22

God uses our circumstances to heal and expand us emotionally, mentally and spiritually, by revealing Himself to us through our various circumstances. He who endures to the end will have gone through the complete work of salvation that God has for their life. He who doesn't will have shortened the salvation work of God, but is still redeemed and is still in the kingdom of
God.

Redemption is a one-time event in the life of the believer.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to open shame. ~ Hebrews 6:4-6

To become unredeemed is to be removed from the presence of God and to be outside the kingdom of God. Can a believing Christian stop believing in God and remove themselves from the kingdom of God? Can a Christian reject their redemption? The Bible is clear that God is available for a relationship, that God will never reject any person from a relationship with Himself. The Bible is just as clear that when a person rejects God there is no longer a relationship and therefore no longer redemption. Our security is in Jesus not in ourselves. If we have Jesus we have security. If we don't have Jesus we don't have any security. Throughout the Bible there are many even thousands of wonderful promises to the believer, yet there is only one promise in all the Bible to a non-believer and that is that God will have the non-believer depart from His glorious presence.

It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with Him (Jesus), we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him He will deny us: If we believe not, yet He
Abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself. ~ 2 Timothy 2:11-13

God can't deny Himself. If we deny God, He doesn't cease to exist. God is not a figment of our imagination. If we deny God He will be faithful to Himself and He will be faithful to
judge accordingly and those who deny God will be removed from His presence.

God had called Abram from his native country and instructed him to go to the promise land and stay there. There was a famine and Abram
disobeyed God Abram removed himself and his wife Sarai from the promise land and went to Egypt. Once in Egypt,
Abram feared for his life. His wife Sarai was beautiful and Abram feared that he would be killed so someone else
could take his wife. Abram, fearing death, asked his wife to tell people she was his sister. This fear of death
was a lack of faith in God. Later Abram believed that God would give life by giving them a child and that God
would preserve life. When Abram believed God as the giver and protector of life, God then changed the name of
Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah. Both of them received the “h” the breath letter in their names, signifying
that they had received the breath of life from God.

Prayer means to talk to, as in a conversation of speaking and listening. In order to have a conversation First the presence and attention of both parties needs to be acknowledged.

Queen Esther in the Old Testament book of Esther is one of our best examples in how to approach and have a relationship with a king, in our case King Jesus. Esther was the bride of King Ausherus and therefore became the queen. Likewise the Church is the bride of Jesus. In this Biblical example the Church is the bride of the king, the most prized position in the land next to that of being king. Notice though how Esther approaches the king even when she is the queen. It is required even of Esther to request permission to enter into the presence of the king and she can only approach the king if the king holds out the scepter in acceptance and she touches the scepter in recognition of his kingly authority. Likewise for us, we cannot go to God without being invited. The scepter that Jesus holds out to us is the scepter of His cross and we are required to touch His cross in acknowledgement of His Kingly rule and authority. To barge into the presence of the King without an invitation and without touching the King's scepter in submission and recognition of His authority and rule is to enter the presence of the King as an enemy and not as a loyal subject. The penalty for entering the king's presence as an enemy is to be immediately put to death.

Esther, once in the presence of the King, continued in a cordial relationship with the King. Esther didn't barge in and say as Queen I demand that you take care of my problems. Esther had problems, her entire race of people, the Jews, were about to be annihilated from the earth. The enemy of the Jews was attempting to use the King's authority to wipe Esther and her people out. Esther went to the King and instead of making demands she instead prepared a banquet for her king. Then she went back and prepared another banquet for the King. In the process of this dinning together and communing together, the King took care of the threat to Esther and her people.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: ~ Philippians 1:3-6

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which all of you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. ~ Philippians 4:8-9

Christianity is not about what you do, it is about whom you know. Getting to know God on a personal individual basis, communicating with King Jesus, is more important than anything else that can ever be accomplished here on earth.

Preach

Preach - Proclaim the Good News Gospel of the Resurrection Life of Jesus Christ

First Use:Nehemiah 6:7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: …

And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature. ~ Mark 16:15

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (proclaimer)? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written [Nahum 1:15] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel (good news) of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. ~ Romans 10:13-15

He is not here (grave) for He has risen as He (Jesus) said … ~ Matthew 28:6

This is the most famous proclamation in all of humanity. This First proclamation was spoken by an angel to Mary Magdalene. This was the angel that rolled away the sealed stone, covering the tomb where the body of Jesus was placed when He was taken down from the cross.

This is the message of the Bible “He is Alive” our life in Jesus and that abundantly. Notice that the angel said that Jesus had risen “as He said”. The angel was not preaching a new message but was repeating the proclamation that Jesus had already stated many times.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up … But He spake of the temple of His body. ~ John 2:19,21

We likewise need to be careful that we remain faithful and preach Jesus' message and not someone else's or our own.

Preaching is to proclaim the good news of the resurrection of Jesus and eternal life. Yes the bad news is sin and death, but without the good news there is no preaching of the gospel.

In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began; but in due times manifested His word through preaching, … ~ Titus 1:2-3

Predestination

Predestination is a Prior Determination

Proorizo (G4309) Pro - prior, before; Horizo - “horizon” determine, decree, mark, establish, boundary
Verses - Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5-11
First Use:Romans 8:29-30 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He glorified.

Predestination is a prior determination. For the Christian it has been predetermined that once a person becomes a Christian, the end result will be the person being conformed to the image of Jesus. This is like an artist that with foreknowledge has predetermined the subject of a painting, or a sculptor, predetermining the shape he is going to mold. Predestination is simply knowing in advance what the final design or destination is. The final predestined destination for the believer is to be in heaven with Jesus and to be similar to Jesus. Similar in that we can interact with Jesus.

Destination is the end of a journey, the final destination. Biblically we are only predestined to heaven once we have acknowledged God. We are not predestined to individual fates in our life. In other words God does not predestine certain people to heaven and then others to hell. Our relationship with God is based on our own individual freedom and choice as God has already chosen to die for our sins the choice is now up to us to acknowledge Him. Therefore we have the freedom in our spirit to either acknowledge Jesus is God or to reject who He has proven Himself to be.

It is only after a person enters into a personal relationship with Jesus that then the person becomes “predestined” to a permanent reunion with Jesus in heaven. There are many factors that affect our daily life. We can make our own decisions and choices, we can let others influence us or make decisions for us. There are also Biblical factors such as we will reap what we sow. In other words, if we do Godly things we will receive Godly things, if we do evil things we will receive evil outcomes.

God also maintains control “providence” over His creation at all times, as according to God's plan God will permit certain events and He will not permit other events. Our lives are filled with many events, accomplishments and even some failures yet none of these are a part of “predestination” as the Bible defines it but all of them are a part of our normal living conditions in a fallen existence and in the fellowship and company of the living God who oversees His entire creation.

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the Mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will: ~ Ephesians 1:5-11

But ye (Church) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light: ~ 1 Peter 2:9

Priest, the office (job) designated by God, to offer from man to God acceptable sacrifices, offerings and gifts. Melchizedek is the First mentioned priest in the Bible. Later in the book of Hebrews in the New Testament we learn that Jesus is the High Priest of the Church in the same faculties of the priesthood of Melchizedek. We also learn that Jesus did not take on the role of Priest Himself As with all priests it is an appointed position by God.

Jesus was appointed (confirmed) a Priest as noted in Psalms 110:4

The LORD hath sworn and will not repent, Thou (Jesus) art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. ~ Psalms 110:4

And they (raptured Church in heaven) sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain (cross) and has redeemed us to God by thy
blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth. ~ Revelation 5:9-10

Each Christian member of the Church is also their own individual (low) priest officiating their own individual altar before God on their own behalf. Each Christian is in interaction with God, offering to God sacrifices, offerings and gifts. In other words, Christians do not go to another (low) priest and then request that priest to go to God for us. The Christian is the priest and we each go to God ourselves, through the (high) priest Jesus.

Ye also, as lively stones [living confessions of Jesus], are built up a Spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 2:5

But just what are these spiritual sacrifices and offerings that we as priests are to offer to God? Some of our offerings to God are, praises, rejoicing, love, faith, hope, patience, involvement, anything we do for God or any interaction from us to God is done in our function as a priest.

But I have all and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus [a messenger] the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. ~ Philippians 4:18

The Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Philippi that their giving to the ministry of Paul was an acceptable sacrifice, not just to Paul but also to God.

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ~ Hebrews 13:16

Pro-Life

Pro-Life - Pro-Family, Pro-Society, Pro-Humanity

Verses - Psalms 127:3, 139:14-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Revelation 1:17-18

First Use:Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply (have lots and lots of babies) …

I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. ~ Psalms 139:14-16

Before I (God) formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ~ Jeremiah 1:5

The pro-life movement is the movement acknowledging that all human life is created in the image of God and is sacred to God. The individuals' lifespan is a work of God and needs to be committed to God. We as people do not end the life of other people no matter how young or how old or in what condition they are in. Being involved in Pro Life issues or any other good cause does not make us a Christian. Accepting the life of Jesus for our own personal sins reconciles us to God. There are many people who do not take part in an abortion and yet will never remain in the presence of God, because of their own sins apart from abortion.

Unfortunately an abortion is nothing less than a satanic blood sacrifice to Satan. Satan desires the sacrifice of blood, any blood young, old, or middle aged. Abortion is a Satanic sacrifice for convince. Choosing what is thought to be convenient over love, obligation and responsibility.

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. ~ Psalms 127:3

One of the major problems with abortion is that from the moment a woman becomes pregnant her body begins to radically change, creating hormones and chemicals that are involved in the pregnancy. When an abortion is preformed the woman's body does not know how to react to the sudden unexpected change of no longer carrying and caring for the baby. Without a baby the buildup of hormones and chemicals abruptly stops and now the woman's' body tells her that her child is missing.

This is when the act of abortion becomes reality. It is now too late to do anything to undo the unfortunate choice, making the abortion experience even more devastating. This is where Post
Abortion Stress occurs, when the physical, emotional, experience of the abortion becomes real.

The one thing that can and should be done when an abortion has occurred is to turn to our Father in heaven. Our Father loves us. He has given humans the blessing to become one in reproduction. God has not given us the authority over life and death. God has retained the important decisions for Himself. God alone will handle the spirit and soul of the unborn child. Sure, we as people can make mistakes, but we cannot make a mistake to big to be committed to God. Our hope is in God who dwells in heaven. Job, after the death of his children, he became reunited with them in heaven.

We can't make right an abortion but God can and has. He died for us and for the unborn as well, so that we can live together with Him in heaven. Let's not cheapen the sacrifice that Jesus has given for us by saying that God's blood is not enough to cover our sins. The fact is, sinner's sin. God is not surprised by our actions He knows mankind.

It is up to Christians to stand in this gap and to “Choose Life”. One of the First functions of the early Church in Rome was to rescue the babies and children left to die (their form of abortion) on the hills outside the city.

And when I (the Disciple John) saw Him (Jesus), I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the First and the last: I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. ~ Revelation 1:17-18

First Use:Genesis 20:7 Now therefore restore the man (Abraham) his wife (Sarah); for he is a prophet …

We have also a more sure word (Bible) of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, unto the day dawn and the day star (Jesus)
arise in your heart. ~ 2 Peter 1:19

The office of prophet is to receive from God and to pass it along for man's benefit and use, revealing God to mankind. Jesus occupies the office of prophet.

According to all that thou (children of Israel) desirest of the LORD thy God in Horeb (Mt. Sinai, desert encampment) in the day of the assembly (when the 10 commandments were given) saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God (Exodus. 20:19), neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not {the presence, sight and sound of God on Mt. Sinai, was more than the children of Israel could sustain, so they asked God to not speak directly to them anymore, but instead to speak to them through prophets. God agreed saying that He would send one specific prophet (Jesus) that all people must obey}. And the LORD said unto me (Moses), they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a prophet (Jesus) from among their brethren, like unto thee and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. ~ Deuteronomy 18:16-19

It will be sin not to obey Jesus.

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. ~ John 6:14

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house. ~ Mark 6:4

Jesus is responding to the people of His town Nazareth who are rejecting Him as a prophet.

Propitiation

Propitiation - Full Payment - Sins Paid in Full

Hilasterion (G2435) hilarious, cheerful, Remedy in full payment with cheerfulness, Payment in full with a cheerful heart, not grudgingly

Verses - Romans 3:24; 1 John 2:2 4:10; Hebrews 9:5

First Use:Romans 3:23-25 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (full payment) through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance (tolerance) of God;

And He (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~ 1 John 2:2

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full payment) for our sins. ~ 1 John 4:10

Payment stems from a debt. If we went out to eat and after eating we each left the restaurant leaving the bill unpaid, how eager would we be to return to that restaurant? Not very eager, because we still have a debt. We would worry that the restaurant would find out and take action, demanding payment and justice from us. If we went to a restaurant and after eating a friend said, “this meal is on me, my treat” and our friend takes out his currency and pays the bill, are we concerned about returning to that restaurant? No because the debt has been paid.

What if our friend offered to pay the bill and we said “Oh your such a fool, I don't think you can handle the bill, so I'll pay or at least chip in and add to your efforts”. We would not be accepting a gift, the free meal would we? We would also be mocking our friend. What if our friend paid the bill, then the next time we went to the restaurant and the owner of the restaurant lied and said that we needed to pay for the already paid debt? Then the owner would not be honest. An honest transaction is when a debt is owed and it is Propitiated, paid in full. The one receiving payment acknowledges the payment and the debt is removed.

This is the relationship the Christian has with God. Through sin we sold ourselves into debt to sin. God created us free, free to worship and fellowship with Him. We, through serving sin, became in debt to sin. Jesus paid our debt to sin and set us free to have a relationship with God. The payment that sin requires is death; this is why Jesus had to die to pay our debt to sin. With sin paid, sin is out of the picture like yesterdays lunch. We can now live in the newness of Jesus' resurrected life. We owe sin nothing more because Jesus paid the full bill and the Father sees to it that sin does not cheat us and require further payment.

Jesus paid our debt regarding sin, but we are still indebted to God and we need to pay our debts to God. The debt to sin is death. Our debt to God is to acknowledge Him and through acknowledgement to fellowship with Him. We are taught to pray to the Father to forgive us our debts (lack of acknowledgement) as we forgive others their debts against us. God has given us the free gift of life. Being a free gift to us doesn't mean that it didn't cost God. We do have the obligation (debt) to acknowledge the great gift of life that God has given to us, twice, once in creation and again in redemption.

Jesus is buying us our free meal (life sustaining nourishment), so let us rejoice and dine with Him with a hearty and thankful appetite.

And unto the angel (messenger) of the Church of the Laodiceans write:.. Behold I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I (Jesus) will come in to him and will sup (lunch) with him and he with Me. {fellowship}. ~ Revelation 3:14-20

Propitiation is also translated as “_the mercyseat_”.

And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the _mercyseat_ (propitiation) … ~ Hebrews 9:5

The mercyseat is the gold covering which covered the Ark of the Covenant. It is above the mercy seat where God met with the priests of Israel.

And thou shalt put the _mercy seat_ above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I (God) will meet with thee and I will commune with thee from above the _mercy seat_, from between the two Cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony … ~ Exodus 25:21-22

Rapture

Rapture - Conclusion of the Church Age - The Christian Church began on Resurrection Sunday (Firstfruits - Easter) and Concludes at the Rapture

Harpazo (G726) snatch, seize, take with force; ie. To snatch like a wallet by a pickpocket
Latin - Rapiemur (Rapture) - to be caught up, taken away, brought into another existence
English - Caught up; Rapture is the English translation from the Latin word Rapiemur

First Use:Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not {Enoch vanished}; for God took [Raptured] him.

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a Trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a Throne was set in Heaven, and One sat on the Throne. ~ Revelation 4:1-2

The Rapture of the Church is the specific event where the Church here on earth is gathered together to Jesus in heaven. The Church had a specific start on the day of the Resurrection of Jesus when Jesus breathed (baptized) on each individual disciple His Spirit and instructed them to “receive the Holy Spirit.” The Church is the unique period of time and the unique group of people, including us, that have received the (born again) baptism of the Holy Spirit from Jesus. The Church did not exist during the Old Testament times and the Church will not exist during the end times of Revelation, called the tribulation and great tribulation, instead the group called “The Martyred Saints” and not the Church exists here on earth. It was not possible for the Church to exist prior to the resurrection of Jesus, because the Church belongs to Jesus and couldn't be united to Jesus prior to the cross. Since the Church belongs to Jesus and is in the sinless image of Jesus, it is not possible for the Church to take
part in the coming wrath of God, as Jesus Himself said on the Cross that “it is finished” meaning that God's wrath for mankind is completed in the cross of Jesus and All who accept Jesus do not take part in the coming wrath of God as it is specifically for the ungodly, those who are not covered by the Cross. The Church is the opposite of ungodly we are God's prized possession.

And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into
heaven. ~ 2 Kings 2:11

This is not a rapture as much as it is a translation, but it helps reveal the dual nature of the Rapture as we are both “Removed” and “Translated” changed into our spiritual bodies. Elijah was translated from his physical body in order to ride in the chariot of fire and to be received into heaven.} Up represents heaven, down represents hell. Elijah went to heaven, but like everyone else during the Old Testament times he had to wait in Paradise - the good side of Hades - until the Resurrection of Jesus then he along with the other Old Testament saints, were led by Jesus and taken to remain in heaven.

Enoch is an Old Testament Saint, who is a type of the coming Rapture. Enoch had a relationship with God and God removed Enoch from the earth prior to the earth's First global judgment when the earth was flooded during the days of Noah. Like Enoch the Church will be removed from the earth as mankind under goes the second global judgment, receiving the wrath of God revealed in the Book of Revelation.

Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which was before preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (return to God's original intention) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. ~ Acts 3:19-21

Forty days after the resurrection of Jesus, He bodily ascended into heaven. Jesus is to remain bodily in heaven until “the times of restitution”. The restitution is described in part in the book of Revelation where Jesus returns to the earth and takes control of the earth. Since the Church is taken out prior to the restoration, prior to the return of Jesus to the earth, the Church is to meet Jesus in the air and we will forever be with Jesus.

Behold, I show you a mystery; We (Christians) shall not all sleep (suffer physical death), but we shall all be changed (translated). In a moment, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump {announcement}: for the trumpet shall sound {this trumpet is a call to gathering sounded by God. It does not have anything to do with the future trumpet judgments of Revelation that are later sounded by angels} and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed (translated). For this corruptible (fleshly body) must put on incorruption (spiritual body) and this mortal must put
on immortality. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-55

But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep (physically dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: And the dead in Christ shall rise First: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (Harpzo, Rapture) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

First Use:Genesis 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had been with me (Jacob), surely thou (Laban) hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine
affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked thee last night.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. ~ Proverbs 27:5-6

Rebuke is valued instruction. With instruction comes knowledge. Sometimes instruction contains the personal knowledge that we ourselves are deficient or are lacking in certain areas of our life. No one likes to find out from someone else that their breath is offensive, or any other personal short comings. Some people love to point out the shortcomings of others. It is one thing to blurt out “hey your breath stinks”. It is another thing to have someone become aware of a problem of his or hers and then empower them with the confidence and desire to change. Jesus does this with us. He chastens us with the end result to draw us closer to Him. From the love and instruction of Jesus comes hope. Jesus does not ridicule nor does Jesus condemn. Jesus gives hope. He also gives us the desire and the ability to change.

On the other hand, Satan the accuser accuses us to demoralize us in an attempt to separate us from God. From the condemnation of Satan comes despair. The end result of Satan's condemnation is to make us distrust or disbelieve God. It seems like at times that everyone has an opinion about how we should live our lives, including God and the Devil. Since everyone does have an opinion about how we conduct our lives, not every opinion is going to be a valid opinion. Not all changes in behavior are good. Only Godly changes are good changes.

It takes a special gift and a talent from God, to chasten and rebuke people. It is only through the love of God and the desire of God to have people draw close to Him, that we can even begin to instruct others. The Church is a call to brotherhood and friendship not a call into instructing others. Lets befriend one another First and then try to change them, or maybe we should just befriend one another and let God through His love handle the changing. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” but the wounds of a stranger can be very devastating. Let's make a friend with our comments before we make a stranger or even worse an enemy with our comments.

First Use:Genesis 48:15-16 And he (Jacob) blesses Joseph and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil,

For I (Job) know that my redeemer liveth and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold and not another; ~ Job 19:25

Redemption is to purchase back something that once belonged to you, but is not currently in your possession. When Adam and the Woman sinned, mankind was sold into sin. To be in sin is to be separated from the possession of God. On the cross, Jesus redeemed (purchased) back from sin, as His possession, all those that would choose to be reunited with God.

And I (God) have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their bondage and I will Redeem you with a stretched out arm and with great judgments: And I will take you to Me for a people and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am the LORD. ~ Exodus 6:5-8

Redemption is expressed in the Old Testament as the Passover feast that Israel celebrated in Egypt. The Passover in Egypt is an enactment of God redeeming (purchasing) His people back into his possession, from the possession of the world and slavery. Death has passed over, the redeemed have escaped death and passed over into life with God. The Jews through Abraham had heard the call of God and had obeyed the call of God to be His people and to live in His land, the promise land. The Jews betrayed their brother Joseph and sold him into slavery. With Joseph sold into slavery and no longer a known part of the family, it became necessary for God to reunite the family. To reunite the family, God brought the entire family from the promise land down into Egypt, where Joseph was. While the Jews were living in the slavery of Egypt they belonged to Egypt and not to God. The Jews did not have the relationship of freedom in the promise land that God wanted for them They were forbidden by the Egyptians to worship God. The night of the Passover by the death of the Firstborn of Egypt, God cleared the way to worldly Egyptian opposition and redeemed the Jews back into His possession. He then removed them from Egypt and God led
them back into His promise land and back into a relationship with Him.

The New Testament redemption occurred on the night of the New Testament Passover (Last Supper) and on the cross of Jesus where Jesus, the Firstborn of God, gave His life and died, clearing the way for us to be freed from the sin and slavery of the world and to be redeemed to God as His possession.

Jesus when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Ghost (Spirit). And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake and the rocks rent; ~ Matthew 27:50-51

The veil in the temple was a partition of separation, separating Holy God from sinful man. With the death of Jesus on the cross, the veil was supernaturally torn from top to bottom signifying that redemption had occurred and that through Jesus the way was now open for man to once again enter into the presence of God.

Redemption is separate and unique from salvation. Redemption occurred at the cross of Jesus where we are redeemed (purchased back) into the presence and a relationship with God. Salvation is a continuing lifelong process where we are healed as we are in a Spiritual relationship with God. Salvation begins at the resurrection of Jesus, when the believer acknowledges the resurrection of Jesus and receives the Holy Spirit. Redemption is a work of God on the cross of Jesus, without the death of Jesus we wouldn't have redemption. Salvation is a work of God through the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection of Jesus we wouldn't have salvation.

Salvation is associated with an event later than the Passover. Salvation is the event of God destroying the pursuing Egyptian army and saving (salvation) the Hebrews from their pursuing enemy.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the Salvation of the LORD which He will show you today: ~ Exodus 14:13

As God parted the Red sea and the Israelites passed through on dry ground to safety, yet the enemy was destroyed by the same waters the Jews walked past.

Redemption is only mentioned twice in the Gospels, both times in the Gospel of Luke. The First time concerning the First coming of Jesus and the second time concerning the second coming of Jesus. Redemption cannot be separated from the presence of Jesus.

… but by His own blood HE (Jesus) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ~ Hebrews 9:12

We are redeemed and reunited with God for eternity, however our physical bodies have not yet been redeemed. Physically we are redeemed after our physical death and we receive a new spiritual
sinless body from God.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the Redemption of our
body. ~ Romans 8:23

Repentance

Repentance is a Biblical Change of Mind

Metanoeo (G3340) Meta - After; Nous - Mind; after mind, after consideration and thought, mind change, change in the thoughts of the mind, a change of mind after thought or reflection

First Use:Genesis 6:6 And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth and it grieved Him in His heart.

Or despisest [by judging others] thou the riches of His (God's) goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. ~ Romans 2:4

Repentance is a change of mind that occurs after thought and reflection. It is God's desire that all men think, reflect and repent. Repentance is one of the main messages of the Bible. All mankind is on the path to destruction. It is God's plan and desire that man repent, change paths and walk the path of life with God. The message of repentance is so important in the Bible that repent is among the First words used by John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter and Paul in each of their First messages to people.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ~ Matthew 3:1-2

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ~ Matthew 4:17

Now when they (crowds) heard this [that the crucified Jesus is God], they were pricked (convicted) in their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ~ Acts 2:37-38

And the times of this ignorance [man's ignorance of God, before the cross of Jesus] God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent; ~ Acts 17:30

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I (Paul) was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But showed First unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance. ~ Acts 26:19-20

First Use:Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens (sky) and the earth were finished and all the host (belongings) of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which He had made; and He rested on
the seventh day from all his work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made {God's work of
creation}.

Rest means to cease from labors and in ceasing, to be renewed and refreshed, to be rested. Rest is a state of comfort and relaxation. Rest can only occur because the work is finished. Where there is work, there is no rest. We can rest because the work has been completed. Jesus has done all of the work necessary to be done. John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them (disciples), My meat is to do the will of Him (Father) that sent me and to finish His work. {The work of Redemption, on the cross}

I (Jesus) have glorified thee (Father) on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest Me to do. ~ John 17:5

This was the night Jesus was betrayed, to be crucified the next day. Jesus was about to cross the brook Cedron. By crossing the brook Cedron and going to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus knew He was
to be betrayed. Jesus was already submitting to the cross. Jesus had already made up His mind and committed Himself to redeem us. When Jesus commits to something He is faithful! He completes what He desires to do and can therefore call it finished because it is finished.

Rest is not only an important Biblical principal; rest is both a commandment to be followed and a feast day to be observed. Rest is the forth of the Ten Commandments.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8

Rest is the First of the eight appointed festivals.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations (gatherings), even these are my feasts. Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. ~ Leviticus 23:1-3

The New Testament book of Hebrews interprets for us the Church, just how we are to abide in the Commandment and Feast of rest.

For we which have believed do enter into rest … ~ Hebrews 4:3

To believe in the finished work of Jesus is our rest, fulfilling both the forth commandment and the First appointed Feast. We enter into the rest of God by faith in the work of God. This is no small rest. Those who do not believe in God, are continually working and toiling in fear and insecurity. We have true rest, the kind of rest that can only come from God.

There is some Church discussion as to whether we have to set aside a certain day for rest, usually a Sunday or a Saturday. Interestingly this topic was also being discussed while the New Testament was being written and Paul the Apostle writes about it in the book of Romans.

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. ~ Romans 14:5

Paul is telling the Church that some Christians hold one day sacred while other Christians hold every day sacred and that either choice is fine, just decide it for yourself. Saturday, starting at sundown on Friday evening, is still the Jewish Sabbath which they are required to observe, because they do not yet have the rest of Jesus. Sunday is the day of gathering and of collective worship for the Church because the Church, every Sunday, is commemorating the Sunday resurrection of Jesus.

Resurrection

Resurrection is to Live Again

Anastasis (G386) Ana - up; Stao - Stand; stand up again, raise, live again
Verses - Matthew 27:53; John 5:29 11:25; Acts 1:22; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:42; Philippians 3:10; Revelation 20:5-6
First Use:Genesis 22:1-19 .. And He (God) said, Take now thy (Abraham's) son, thy only son Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah {present day temple mount in Jerusalem}; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell thee.. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the donkey; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship (acknowledge life comes from God) and come again to you.

Abraham was acknowledging the resurrection ability of God, stating that he and Isaac were both going to return after he had offered Isaac as a sacrifice. The sacrifice was both prophetic and symbolic of the future sacrifice of our Heavenly Father offering His Son Jesus, at the exact same location. The Father offered Jesus His Son so that mankind would be reunited with God.

The same day came to Him (Jesus) the Sadducees {religious/political leaders}, which say that there is no resurrection… Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err (error), not knowing the Scriptures (Bible), nor the power of God… But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and
the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. ~ Matthew 22:23,29,31-32

Resurrection is to stand up again, to come back living from the dead. Jesus has done just that. Jesus suffered and died on the cross and resurrected the third day. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection of Jesus there is no Christianity. The resurrection proves that Jesus is God. It proves that His sacrifice is acceptable and that our own sins are forgiven and it proves that believing Christians will spend eternity with the loving God in heaven.

The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event that a Christian is required to believe in, in order to be a Christian and become justified. One has to believe in the actual bodily resurrection of Jesus. It is not a theory, nor is it a vague hazy concept, or in a “spiritual” sense that Jesus has resurrected. The same Jesus that was born from the womb of a virgin, died on the cross and was buried in the tomb, is the same Jesus that stood again in full resurrection life. The resurrection of Jesus is the one act of faith (belief) that we as Christians are required to believe. Without a belief in the resurrection of Jesus it is impossible to be a Christian, it is impossible to have a relationship with God. Christianity stands on the wonderful resurrection of Jesus.

For I (Apostle Paul) delivered unto you First of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: And that He was buried and that He rose again (resurrected) the third day according to the Scriptures: And that, He was seen of Cephas (Disciple Peter), then of the twelve (disciples): After that, He was seen of above five hundred (500+ people) brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain (are still alive) unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James (a 1/2 brother of Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph, he wrote the N.T. book of James); then all of the apostles {it was a requirement of the early Church to see the resurrected Jesus before you could be called an Apostle} and last of all He was seen of me (Apostle Paul) also. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

It was on the evening of the resurrection of Jesus that the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Jesus. We are not baptized and do not receive the baptism from Jesus until the day we First realize that Jesus is indeed risen from the dead, that He is alive! The Gospel Message of the Church is the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle Paul traveled the known world delivering this message to everyone, from Kings to outcasts.

Having therefore obtained help of God, I (Apostle Paul) continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer and that He should be the First that should rise from the dead and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles (non-Jews). And as he (Paul) spoke thus for himself, Festus [Roman, Governor of Caesarea] said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. ~ Acts 26:22-25

The Apostle Paul was on trial for his life in the Roman court system. Paul was testifying before King Agrippa and the King's wife Queen Bernice. Festus the Governor had heard Paul's testimony before about the risen Jesus. But Festus misunderstood and thought Christianity was about a dispute that this man named Jesus was missing. Some thought Jesus to be dead and some thought Jesus to be alive. During the testimony Festus realized for the First time that Christianity is about the resurrection of Jesus and right in the middle of Paul's speaking a startled Festus shouted out that Paul was mad.

The resurrection of Jesus is a weighty topic to ponder and like Festus we might want to declare this is madness, but the truth is, Paul, the disciples, over 500 apostles, the prophets, the law, the scriptures and the Holy Spirit of God all testify to the Gospel News that Jesus is indeed the Christ and raised from the dead!

First Use:Genesis 15:1 After these things [Abram had just inflicted a big defeat on the ruling kings of the earth and Abram was afraid of their retaliation] the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is [exists] and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Every man's work (Ergon, (2041), effort, energy) shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire [judgment]; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work (effort) abide which he hath built thereupon [Jesus], he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Rewards are individual recognition for individual accomplishments. Every redeemed person will receive the reward of heaven, but then there are additional rewards from God. The rewards are what we have done here on earth that translate to the kingdom of God. God is going to test through the judgment of fire every action, thought, word and deed of every person. Our actions that are Godly in nature will be permitted to enter into heaven with us; the acts that are worldly will not be permitted into heaven. All of the Godly thoughts, conversation, prayers and devotions that we have had toward God will be permitted into heaven. If we meet and get to know a fellow Christian here on earth we will remember it in heaven. It is our reward from here on earth. The more we build on the foundation of Jesus and the more we prepare ourselves to live in the everlasting presence of the Holy God the more rewarding heaven will be for each of us.

Some rewards are represented in the Bible as crowns. There are two types of crowns in the Bible, _Diadema (1238)_ crown of authority and rule, kingly crown; and _Stephanos (4735)_ a symbol and award of accomplishment. The Christian receives the “stephanos,” the recognition of the reward. Jesus wears the “diadem,” the crown of authority. For a short 3 1/2 years Satan will also wear a counterfeit diadem of stolen authority.

Some of the reward crowns mentioned in the Bible are the, everlasting crown {1 Corinthians 9:25}, the crown of fellowship {Philippians 4:1}, crown of rejoicing {1 Thessalonians 2:19}, crown of righteousness {2 Timothy 4:8} crown of life {James 1:2, Revelation 2:10} and the crown of glory {1 Peter 5:4}. These are all rewards that we can participate in here on earth and then enjoy them for eternity with God.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. ~ Daniel 12:3

Righteousness

Righteousness - In a Personal Relationship with God

Dikaios (G1342) right, correct, making the right decisions, innocent, without guilt

First Use:Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He Come and rain righteousness upon you. ~ Hosea 10:12

Righteousness is the act of being right or correct. There are right decisions in life and there are wrong decisions and choices in life. God is the judge of our choices. Is there one act of righteousness (correctness) that makes us right with God? The disciples asked Jesus this question. John 6:28-29 Then said they (disciples) unto Him (Jesus), What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (Jesus) whom He (Father) has sent.

What is the work of God that we are to believe, specifically about Jesus? What makes us right with God? God performs the work of “life”. God is the God of life. God created life; He then came to redeem back our lost lives. We are to believe that God is the God of life. When we believe in the work of life of God, we are correct and justified by God. The resurrection of Jesus is the event that proves that God is the God of life and that He is capable of giving life from death.

But for us also [those who have faith like Abraham], to whom it (righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on Him (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. ~ Romans 4:24-25

The Father sent Jesus into the world to condemn sin and to judge righteousness and unrighteousness. Jesus died on the cross, condemning sin. Then Jesus rose from the dead, proving that He is the Judge of the living and the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event to humanity. The resurrection of Jesus is the dividing line between everlasting life and everlasting death. The resurrection of Jesus is the event that divides mankind for all times into two distinct groups; the group of life and the group of death. Jesus resurrected to give mankind the option of life or death. Those that believe that man exists in sin and that Jesus is God and that He came to die for us, enabling us to live with Him and that the resurrection proves the Deity of Jesus, will be justified (innocent) and will live with God.

When we believe that God is the God of life, just as Abraham did when He believed that God would give life to Isaac in the womb of Sarah while Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham himself was 99 years old. Then Abraham continued to believe that God is life when Abraham believed God would resurrect Isaac when Isaac was to be offered on mount Moriah. These actions by Abraham of belief, that God is life, made Abraham righteous. And it is the same belief in the same God that makes us righteous.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. ~ Isaiah 61:10

It's not very hard to be justified by God. All we have to do is realize that we do not have life in ourselves. Moment by moment we need a breath of life to sustain us; we need food, water, rest, shelter and companionship. Man is very needy and God meets our every need. We are not capable of sustaining our own lives. A quick glance at other people will confirm that no one lives very long on earth. It is easy to recognize that man is not the answer to life and it is just as easy to realize that Jesus is the answer to life.

… God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Salvation means to be taken out of harm's way, “saved” from harm or danger, included in being saved is healing, emotional spiritual healing. Where there is danger there is suffering and injury; where there is salvation there is healing. Our salvation does not stop with us being saved from perishing in the fires of hell. We as Christians commonly ask others “are you saved?” as though salvation is a onetime finished work in our lives. Often what we are really asking is if the person has a personal relationship with God. A relationship with God First involves redemption (renewed relationship) with God, then through our new Spiritual relationship (sanctification) with God we are continually being saved (healed).

Salvation is separate and unique from redemption. Redemption means to be returned back into the possession of a separated owner. We have been Redeemed on the cross of Jesus signified, at the crucifixion, when the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom revealing that the way into the presence of God was now open to mankind. Redemption is represented in the Bible by the Old Testament night of Passover in Egypt when Israel was redeemed back to God from the slavery of Egypt. Salvation means healing. We are healed from sin when we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit from Jesus. The salvation process continues on in our lives as God continues to protect and heal us. Salvation is represented in the Old Testament as the event when God parted the Red Sea, saving the Hebrews and then destroying the pursuing enemy, the Egyptian army. Redemption is a work of God on the cross of Jesus. Without the death of Jesus we wouldn't have redemption. Salvation is a work of God in the resurrection of Jesus, without the resurrection of Jesus we wouldn't have salvation.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today (God's parting of the Red Sea): for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The LORD shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace. ~ Exodus 14:13

The Egyptian army was not the only danger the Hebrews were saved from. During their time in the wilderness, the Hebrews were continually being saved. They were saved from hunger, saved from thirst, saved from being lost as God led them. They were saved from separation from God as God instructed them and revealed Himself to the Hebrews in a relationship with them. This salvation process is a healing process. God is continually saving us and healing us as we walk with Him.

Where redemption is a function of the cross of Jesus, salvation is a function of the resurrection of Jesus. We are redeemed when we acknowledge our sin and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. We are not saved (healed) until we acknowledge the resurrection life of Jesus and Jesus then baptizes us with the new life of the Holy Spirit.

[salvation is obtained] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration (Spiritual, rebirth) and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. ~ Titus 3:5-6

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief
of the truth: ~ 2 Thessalonians

Salvation (healing) is a part of the continuing sanctification process. Sanctification is to be set apart for a relationship with God. Through a relationship with God we are being healed as we begin to know more about the love of God and the plan of God through Jesus to save the world from sin, death and despair. Yes there is healing in the living God of the Bible!

First Use:Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

Sanctification means to be set apart from the world and brought into the presence of God. Sanctification is the continuing process of being drawn closer and closer into a relationship with God. When we become born again we are cleansed of sin so the Spirit of God comes inside of us and fills us. All Christians are full of the Spirit of God. However, differing from individual to individual, is the capacity of being filled. A cup can be full and a large barrel can also be filled but the barrel has much more capacity and contains much more than the cup.

The process of sanctification is directly related to the result of the individual denying self and living to God. We can be born again Christians and seldom pray, seldom read the Bible and seldom seek God. By doing this we are living a life set apart for ourselves and not to God, consequently, we will have little connection with God. As we begin to replace our actions and desires with that of God and the more we seek God, the more we will find God and the more we will know Him.

Sanctification is a position. It is like being hired for a position at a new job. We show up to perform the job. We are on the payroll and receiving the benefits, yet we know little about the job or about our employers or our fellow employees. As the years go by we become more familiar with our job and with our bosses and fellow employees. The difference is the amount of sanctification, the amount that we are set apart to our job and surroundings. The sanctification process doesn't stop. It continues the entire time we remain at that job. Christianity is like a job. We have the position of Christians (Christ like) and our position is a relationship with God. Yet we know very little about what this position entails. As we live a Christian life, we experience God by praying, reading the Bible, fellowship with other Christians and by being a servant to God and others.

As a Christian we can also experience visions, dreams and prophesy. We can encounter angels, encounter demons, experience trials, experience persecution, receive blessings and a host of things, just as in the Bible. With these and other life experiences we become sanctified, becoming more knowledgeable of our position and our surroundings.

The sanctification process is sometimes illustrated as a car having four tires with air in all four tires the car moves smoothly. Lack of air in any of the tires makes for a ruff ride. The four tires of sanctification are considered Bible reading/studying, Prayer, Fellowship, Church Involvement and Helping/Serving/Volunteering. This is a very powerful illustration because if we leave out any of these tires, Christianity is a rough ride. Reading the Bible, praying, fellowshipping and helping others is just the cure to the difficulties we encounter in life.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the
ground, which did weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt
my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I
will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell,
to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee and consider thee, saying, Is this the
man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; ~ Isaiah 14:12-16

Satan means accuser and Devil means slanderer. Both names are descriptive titles of this fallen angel's
character. The actual name of Satan is unknown. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Satan was the First to rebel
against God and through the deception of Satan, sin and death entered into all mankind. Satan knew what He was
doing when he set out to destroy mankind. Satan knows the pain and suffering that exists and yet he continues to
perpetuate as much pain and suffering as he can.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in
thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence and thou hast sinned;
therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, ~ Ezekiel 28:15

Satan was originally an Angel created by God and called Lucifer. Lucifer is a title meaning bright and morning
star and originally Lucifer didn't have sin but in himself he sinned against God. He desired to rule even above
God. Lucifer is now the fake morning star, still seeking to be worshipped above God. The word lucky is an old
pagan witchcraft word and comes from Lucifer. Lucky is not a Biblical term, lucky; lu- Lucifer; ky - key; lit.
Lucifer key; acknowledging Lucifer as giving someone a key to unlock their worldly desires. A person that claims
to be lucky is someone who is claiming to have received from the devil. Christians are never lucky; Christians are “blessed” from God.

Do not err my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (no deception), neither
shadow (no darkness) of turning (deceit). ~ James 1:16-17

Two characteristics of Satan are that he is subtle (not obvious) and that he is a counterfeiter (a copycat):

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ~ Genesis 3:1

Satan is subtle, it is the subtle lie, the subtle deception that is just as Satanic as any outrageous act. Because Satan is so subtle and since he
is also a spirit being, the First piece of Spiritual armor for the Christian is the belt of truth (Bible).

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (methods) of the devil. … Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. … ~ Ephesians 6:11-14

Satan is also a counterfeiter. Satan is pretending to be god and therefore counterfeits what God does for real.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the [counterfeit] apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an [counterfeit] angel of light. ~ 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. ~ Revelation 20:10

Second Coming

A Second Coming means that there has already been a First Appearance

First Use:Jude v. 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes (2nd Coming) with ten thousands of His saints,

Second Coming means that there has already been a First Coming; the Second Coming is a return appearance. Jesus came the First time to redeem mankind back to Him. Jesus specifically came the First time to suffer death on the cross, but not just death; mocking, humiliation, rejection, abuse and a host of other things that the God of Glory would suffer at the hands of His creation. The mystery is not that Jesus would return, the mystery is why did Jesus come the First time. Of course there is only one answer to the First visit of Jesus and that is that Jesus came because He loves us.

The Second Coming of Jesus is when Jesus returns to establish His throne here on earth, when Jesus reigns and rules as the rightful King and God of the earth. Right now Jesus reigns and rules in the lives of Christians but apart from Christians the world does not acknowledge Jesus as the King.

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, after this [after God takes for Himself people from among the gentiles] I (Jesus) will return and will build again the tabernacle [dwelling, throne] of [king] David. ~ Acts 15:15-16

Jesus is the physical seed (descendant) of king David, through Mary who is a descendant of David. Jesus a descendant of David is then eligible and is going to rule the earth from the same throne that king David ruled Judah from over 3,000 years ago.

There are approximately 333 prophecies written in the Old Testament of the Bible predicting the First coming, of Jesus. There are approximately 555 prophecies in the entire Bible (Old and New Testaments), prophesying about the second coming of Jesus creating a total of about 888 prophecies regarding the various comings of Jesus.

First Coming Prophecies:

The Bible's first prophecy given is about the 'First Coming' of Jesus.

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this (deceived the woman), thou are cursed above all cattle and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed (Antichrist) and her seed (Christ - Jesus); it (Jesus) shall bruise thy (Satan's) head [this occurred at the cross of Jesus, John 19:17 and He bearing His cross went forth into a place called “the place of the skull”.] and thou shalt bruise His heel … Genesis 3:14-15

This among other things, happened to Jesus on the cross where His heel was nailed against the cross and was badly bruised as He supported His body on the heel of His foot. This is a prophesied injury that could not have occurred by stoning or any other means of death. Jesus bruised His heel in order to heal us.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass (donkey) and upon a colt the foal of an ass (donkey). ~ Zechariah 9:9

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem [Jerusalem was destroyed the First time by the Babylonian army in B.C. 722} unto Messiah (Jesus) the Prince shall be seven weeks {each week is a seven year time period, like a decade of seven years} and threescore (60) and two weeks: {7 + 60 + 2 = 69 weeks; 7 X 69 = 483 years, Jesus was prophesied to come 434 years after the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem and He did.} the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublous times.. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah (Jesus) be cut off (executed, (H3772)), but not for himself: ~ Daniel 9:25-26

It was 7 weeks or 49 years until the Jerusalem temple was rebuilt, occurring after the 70 year Jewish captivity in Babylon was complete. Then there were roughly 169 years until the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem was given. After an additional 60 and 2 weeks 434 years the Messiah was to be executed, the cross of Jesus.

There are a total of 70 weeks, 490 years, explained to Daniel the prophet by an angel, 69 of the weeks have been fulfilled the 70th and last week (seven year period) is thought to take place during the time of Revelation.

Second Coming Prophesies:

Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. ~ Revelation 1:7

The Bible's Second Prophecy is given by Enoch of the Old Testament and is about the 'Second Coming' of Jesus.

And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son. ~ Zechariah 12:10

This is an Old Testament prophecy, stating that the Messiah would return and the one whom they “have pierced”. Psalms 22 in the Old Testament contains direct quotes of Jesus from the cross. Isaiah Chapter 52:13 - 53:12, is also an Old Testament direct description of the events of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Security of the Believer

Security of the Believer - We are Secure in Jesus Christ

God desires and wants us to grasp redemption and to move on and to walk with God in the security of a relationship in love and trust with Him. The reason that we are secure in God is that the redemption work is completely a work of God. God became a man in Jesus to reconcile us back to Him. Fortunately our being a Christian, a child of God, is not dependant on our actions it is dependant on our faith. The faith that Jesus has risen from death, securing everlasting life for us. Faith is not external requiring that we do something to obtain it; faith is inward so our faith cannot be taken away by anything or by anybody.

In the Bible King David is a favorite of God, if not God's favorite. But lets look at David's actions; David, lied, cheated, stole and murdered, David might have broken all ten of God's ten commandments, yet David remained a favorite of God. This is because David remained faithful to God. David's one desire was to dwell forever in the presence of God.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to enquire (admire) in His temple. ~ Psalms 27:4

God says that He has the same mercies for us that He has for King David.

Incline your ear and come unto Me: hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even as the sure mercies of David. ~ Isaiah 55:3

We, like King David, can go astray and have our problems. Faith in Jesus and not faith in ourselves will always bring us home to God.

… for He (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ~ Hebrews 13:5-6

The strongest promise in the Bible is that God will never leave us or forsake us. This promise actually says that it is not possible for God to leave us, nor is it possible for God to forsake us. Part of understanding this wonderful promise of God is understanding the various locations of God. The Bible uses three locations or prepositions to reveal to us our relationship with God.

The First preposition is parallel, the Bible tells us that God is parallel or beside every living person on the earth. It is not possible to escape God's presence, God is parallel (beside) each person, believer and non-believer. For instance God is overseeing the non-voluntary life functions of our bodies. God causes our heart to beat as well as giving us every breath we breathe during our life. God also oversees the growth of our bodies. Any cell in our body has the DNA code to divide and become any type of body tissue. It is God who instructs each cell what to become whether that cell is to develop into eye, brain, stomach, hair, bone, lung, teeth, tissue etc.. Without God no one would grow or function. It is rejecting God's parallel presence in our life that is rejecting God and this is what keeps the non-believer a non-believer.

The second preposition used in God's relationship to people is “in”. Once a person acknowledges the parallel presence of God and invites God into their life, God comes “in” to the person and combines with the spirit of the person giving the person Spiritual life in a new internal Spiritual relationship with God. A relationship with God as our Father and we as God's children.

The third preposition used in the Bible for God's location to us humans is “upon”. The upon preposition is used to refer to the empowerment work of God. From time to time God comes upon people giving people an overflow of God's presence. It is this overflow or upon that enables people to speak and witness, prophesy and display in many ways the greatness and wonderfulness of God.

We are indeed secure in God.

Seer

Seer - The early Prophets of Israel before the appointing of the Kings of Israel

First Use:1 Samuel 9:9 Beforetime (before the Kings) in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come and let us go to the Seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.

The Seer was part of a short distinct time period in the history of Israel and came from the office of the Prophets. The office of Seer took place during the unique time period of Israel when God was their King. With God in the midst of Israel He was no longer Prophesied about but was seen by the Seer. This time period began after the Passover and upon leaving Egypt. Exodus 13:17 “God led them” He could be Seen leading the new Nation of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promise Land. In those days everyone in Israel could See God as appeared in a pillar of Cloud by day and in a pillar of Fire by night. The Seer time period lasted from the Egypt Exodus throughout the wilderness into the Promise Land including the time period of the Judges and until the regretful moment when Israel as a Nation rejected the leadership of God and chose for themselves an earthly king named Saul (Asked For) so they could be like all of the other nations around them and like all of the other nations they could no longer see God in their midst. With the anointing and placing of Saul into the office of King the brief Seer period of Israel reverted back to the prophet period and remains the prophet period for Israel until this day.

10:17-19 And ye have this day rejected your God. As that day they were anointing Saul King. ~ 1 Samuel

The Church however has God as King and is at times in a position of a Seer.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall _see_ God. ~ Matthew 5:8

As the “Born Again” “Pure in Heart” Church we at times do get to glimpse and to see God at work as He leads and directs our path into His righteousness. There are times that are just too Compassionate, to Divine and to Miraculous to be anything but the occurrence of God. It is only the Christian that is equipped and able to be a Seer into these very special moments in life.

There is an interesting development about Seeing God. In the Old Testament it was well known by the people that to See God meant the death of the individual as it is not possible for a sinful human to look upon the Holy God and to then live. We of the New Testament might think that thought to be old fashioned or superstitious but of a Truth it is not possible to look upon God and live. To see the Holy God or even to glimpse of His Divine attributes does indeed bring death to the observer. To see God, to behold His Beauty, to look upon the Holy God does cause us to die to self, as we begin to see God for His Majesty and us for our shortcomings and this wonderful discovery then causes in us a new desire, the desire to now Live for God.

Timeline:
God Chooses Abraham - Isaac - Jacob to begin a Family in order for God to reveal Himself (through Scripture,
Customs and Laws) to all of mankind through this one Chosen Family. The Family sells it's one brother Joseph into
Slavery. To reunite the Family God then causes a famine and sends the entire Family (now 70 Souls) into Egypt and
eventual slavery. The Family remains in Egypt in slavery until rescued by God and released from Egypt via the
death of the firstborn sons. The Family that went into Egypt is now Called out of Egypt as a Nation. The New
Nation of Israel is birthed in one day, the day of their freedom from the Nation of Egypt. In their Freedom and as

a New Nation God is their New King and can be seen among them and therefore the Prophet is now referred to as the
Seer. With the eventual rejection of God as their King and the appointing of the earthly King Saul the nation
reverts back to the office of Prophets.

Abraham as a Prophet

And God said unto him (Abimelech) in a dream, … restore the man (Abraham) his wife; for he is a Prophet. ~ Genesis 20:6-7

Moses as a Prophet

And there arose not a Prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. ~ Deuteronomy 34:10

Moses began as a Prophet prior to the Freedom and creation of the Nation of Israel but then Moses continued as a Seer as Moses saw God face to face.

Samuel as a Seer

And Samuel answered Saul, and said I am the Seer: ~ 1 Samuel 9:19

This is prior to Saul being King of Israel. Then as Saul becomes King in Israel there is the returning back to the Prophet era and all the succeeding prophets in Israel are prophets i.e. Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Zechariah.

Isaiah as Prophet

… unto Isaiah the Prophet the son of Amoz. ~ Isaiah 37:2

From time to time the “Seer” is mentioned in the Old Testament it is mostly an older Prophet who began his ministry in the days before King Saul or it is a reference keeping in mind that at one time God was Seen among the people by “Seers” but now it is prophets that prophesy of God. In Amos, “seer” is used as a put down to the prophet Amos, alluding that prophecy was an outdated practice.

Also Amaziah (Priest) said unto Amos, O thou Seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: but prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel and it is the king's court. ~ Amos 7:12

Servant

Servant - working for the benefit of others

Doulos (G1401) subservient, slave, working for the benefit of others, performing helpful tasks

First Use:Genesis 9:25 And he (Noah) said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (scriptures) which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ~ Romans 6:16-18

Servant is someone who does the desires of the master. God is our master and those that choose to be, are His servants. However, the master/servant relationship between God and man is not the same as a master servant relationship between two people. God being our master and our companion, doesn't just send us off to perform tasks for Him like a human master would. Instead, God actually does His work through us. We are a servant to God not when we do tasks but when we yield to God. The servant part of our relationship is not in going out and witnessing to someone about God; the servant part is in us yielding ourselves to God, learning about who God is and in companionship with God, letting God work naturally through our natural words and actions so that we naturally are a witness of God. Another example, would be to bring food and clothing to needy people, this act alone would not make us a servant of God, but in companionship with God, getting to know God and allowing God to work through us
naturally, with us acknowledging God and giving God the credit and the glory we are a servant of God. All the while we are serving God we are getting to know Him, as He is our constant companion.

The Bible also tells about a special kind of servant called a “bond servant”. The bondservant is a servant that has completed their obligated period of employment as a servant and is free to leave. The servant states that their desire is to remain a servant to that particular master. In doing so they “bond” themselves to the master for life. The servant does this because the relationship between the master and the servant is a pleasant one. Like the saying goes “it is better to be a servant in a rich man's house than to be your own poor master”. Being a servant is not akin to slavery.

A servant has a position of trust bestowed on them by the master:

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:2

The master is also obligated to provide for the needs of the servant. God as our master does provide for all of our needs. He feeds, cloths and has provided a home and a future for us.

Septuagint

Septuagint - The Hebrew Old Testament Translated into Greek

Septuagint is the entire Old Testament of the Bible translated from the Jewish Hebrew language into the Geek language approximately 200 B.C. Many of our English book titles from the Old Testament are from the Septuagint version. Genesis (Beginnings), Exodus (Out of Path), Psalms (Songs).

The entire Old Testament was completely written by the Jews in the Jewish Hebrew language about 400 B.C. Then approximately 200 B.C. the Old Testament was entirely translated by a small group of devout Jews from the Hebrew language into scrolls written in the Greek language. This is significant because these events occurred 400 200 years before the birth of Jesus. Much of the Old Testament was written as prophecy about the coming of Jesus. With two versions, the Hebrew and the Greek of the Bible circulating around the world prior to the birth of Jesus, it is impossible to add text to the Bible to portray the life of Jesus after the birth of Jesus. If text had been added to the Geek version of the Bible, it would no longer match the Hebrew Bible. Likewise if text were added to the Hebrew Bible about Jesus then there were still 2,500 years of Hebrew and 200 years of Greek Bibles circulating around the world that would not substantiate the new versions.

In 1947-1956 in the Dead Sea region of Israel, Hebrew Bibles called the “Dead Sea Scrolls” were found sealed in clay jars that were hidden in various caves. The Dead Sea scrolls date back to the times before, during and shortly after Jesus walked on earth. Almost the entire Old Testament was found. When our modern Old Testament Bibles were compared to the Dead Sea Scrolls, “Old Testament Bibles” the Bibles were virtually identical, except for a very few spelling differences they were identical. This is stunning proof that the Bible has remained unedited since it was originally written and that the prophecies about Jesus existed in the Bible years before the birth of Jesus, proving that the Bible is written with knowledge of events before they happen. This also proves the Bible to have been written with more knowledge than man possesses, knowledge that can only come from God.

First Use:Deuteronomy 20:12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shall besiege it:

Siege is a military warfare tactic. A siege is to defeat by isolation from needed resources. A siege is a very effective form of warfare because the siege separates the people from assistance, morale and help. The siege does not jeopardize the attacking enemy because the enemy is not directly attacking a strongly defended people. Once the isolation and deprivation have taken place, do to the siege, the people often lose the will to resist and the city is then taken in tact without much of a battle. Siege warfare is successful because it removes the will to resist; the battle is won before the actual physical engagement begins. Siege warfare is common spiritual warfare used to isolate, separate and remove Christians from fellowship and Church attendance.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. ~ Hebrews 10:24-25

For sin shall not have dominion (rule) over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ~ Romans 6:14

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. ~ 1 Timothy 1:15

Sin is disobedience to God. When we sin against God we have been overcome, we have lost, been defeated, the modern term for sin would be looser. We have lost when we sin, lost the accomplishment, lost the victory and lost the reward. Jesus is not a sinner, Jesus is not a looser, Jesus is victorious and Jesus is a winner. Jesus has allowed us to trade in our loosing position and join Him in His victory over sin and death.

Sin is disobedience, without at least one rule or law there would be no sin. No rules or no laws would indicate no infractions and therefore no sin. Without any laws there also wouldn't be any obedience. Adam and Eve had at least one law to follow and that law was to not eat from the tree of good evil. During the time of Moses, God instructed the Jews in about 613 laws.

Since Jesus has come, all of the laws have been combined into two commandments:

We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the First and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ~ Matthew 22:37-40

This law that we follow is called the Royal Law because Jesus who gave it to us, is also a Royal King, it is the Royal Law coming from the Royal King Jesus.

A law is different from a rule; a rule is basically a person's decree. Breaking the speed limit is actually breaking a rule. People have decreed a rule for all to follow while driving. When the rule is broken, then there are options for fines and punishments and they vary according to the desires of the people in charge.

A law on the other hand is God's rule. Laws are a guaranteed cause and effect. There are many laws, including a law of gravity, a law of entropy (anything left alone will decay, not improve), a law of electricity if we break one of these laws a lawyer or a judge cannot lessen the penalty. Touching electricity will cause a shock, falling from a high place will cause a hard landing, etc.

The same cause and effect applies to spiritual laws, the end result of sin is death. If you're not sure about this law, try to find someone, anyone over about 120 years old. Very old people do not exist because everyone is under sin and from the law of sin the result is death. There are other laws. God also has the complete (in Jesus) law of liberty, that if we have Jesus we have complete liberty and God has given us the Royal Law to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

If we follow Jesus and the royal law of Jesus we are guaranteed, by the Law of God, to be in the Family of God.

Sleep

To Sleep in Jesus Christ is to be unharmed by the physical effect of death

Koimao (G2837) sleep, slumber, unaware, die, deceased
Verses - Psalms 13:3; Matthew 13:25; 1 Corinthians 15:20-51; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:14 5:6,7,10
First Use:Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep [i.e. death on the cross] to fall upon Adam and he slept: and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

The bride of Adam came from His side, while he was placed in a deep sleep. The bride (Church) marriage with Jesus was made possible by the blood that flowed from the side of Jesus, while He was dead on the cross. God through Adam was acting out how Jesus was to obtain His bride, the Church.

Sleep has several meanings in the Bible. Sleep is referred to as the physical act of sleep. Sleep is also referred as the death of the believer. Just as physical sleep is not harmful to the person, death is not harmful to the believer. Sleep is also used to refer to being unaware, that is unaware of God, unaware of man's sinful predicament and unaware of God's plan for man.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this (communion) bread and drink this (communion) cup of the Lord, unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:27-30

This sleep does not mean death, it means unaware. Many people in the Church of Corinth were not awake to the relationship and salvation that are available in the living resurrected Jesus.

It is possible to partake in the Christian practice of communion by eating bread and drinking from the cup, yet not being aware of the gift of God from Jesus that the bread and the cup represent. We are being told in this verse that ritual does not heal us and make us alive to God but that a relationship with Jesus does. We are being encouraged to awake from sleep and to be aware of God and His healing salvation plan for us.

5:4-8 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day (the day of Jesus' return, to rapture the Church) should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night (darkness); and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day (awake), be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. ~ 1 Thessalonians

Son of God

Son of God - Jesus Christ is the Only Son human/flesh of God

Huios (G5207) son, son in the image of the father, son receiving an inheritance from the father.
Tou (G5120) of, possession, belonging to or coming from
Theos (G2316) God, self-existing, eternal, Deity

First Use:Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt; and the form of the forth is like the Son of God.

And Philip said, If thou Believest with all thine heart, thou mayest [be baptized]. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ~ Acts 8:37

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ~ 1 John 3:8

Son of God is a name, a title and a reference to Jesus. Only Jesus is referred to as the Son of God. Jesus is the begotten Son of God, meaning that Jesus is fully God, as His Father, is fully God.

And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son (huios) and thou shalt call His name Jesus (Yahweh is Salvation): for He shall save (salvation, 4982) His people from their sins. ~ Matthew 1:21

Jesus is always referred to in the Bible as a Son (Huios) an adult inheritor of the Father's kingdom. Jesus is never referred to as a child (teknon). Teknon is used for humans as children of God.

Sons of God

Sons of God see also Child of God, Adoption, Inheritance

Huioi (G5207) (plural) sons, sons in the image of the father, sons receiving an inheritance from the father
Twn (G5120) (plural) of, possession, coming from or belonging to
Theos (2316) God, self-existing, eternal, Deity

First Use:Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God [fallen Angels] saw the daughters [girls] of men that they were fair; and they [fallen Angels] took them [by force] wives of all which they chose.

And the Angels [fallen Angels] which kept not their first estate [Angel spirit-body], but left their own [spirit-body] habitation [for sex-union with strange human flesh], He [God] has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day [Final Judgment]. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to
fornication [union], and going after strange flesh [male to male], are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The sons of God are individual spirit life creations of God the Father. As sons they are also inheritors of the Father's kingdom. Sons currently exist in the kingdom of God. Angels are referred to as Sons of God because they currently exist in the kingdom of God and each of them is a unique individual creation of God. Adam being a unique creation of God and originally living in God's kingdom is also called a Son of God. Currently each human is a son of man. When a human enters into the covenant relationship with God by acknowledging God, then the human becomes also a child of God and a son of God. A human fully becomes a son of God when we physically die and enter into the perceivable presence of God, where we are adopted as sons; we receive a new unique spiritual body and an inheritance in the kingdom of God.

When [at the designing and building of the earth] the morning stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy? ~ Job 38:7

Son of Man

Son of Man See also Sons of God

Huios (G5207) son, son in the image of the father, son receiving an inheritance from the father
Tou (G5120) of, possession, belonging to or coming from
Anthropos (G444) man, human “man-faced” apperance

First Use:Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent: hath He said and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, … ~ Matthew 9:6

Son of Man is a name, a title and a reference used by Jesus when referring to Himself. The prophet Ezekiel also often referred to himself as son of man. To be a son of man is to be human. Many people could easily see how Jesus is God, the miracles that He preformed, the prophecies that He foretold and the knowledge that Jesus possessed all testify of the Deity of Jesus. Jesus wanted the people around Him to understand that He was God and that He was also a human, so Jesus often referred to Himself as the Son of Man.

For example, some people were on an important journey to go from one place to another. Along the way they encountered a dangerous ravine so steep and deep that the ravine was impassible. The voyagers decided to split up into two groups and each group would walk in a different direction until a way was found to cross over the deadly ravine. The First group came across a very strong and sturdy bridge, but as they walked across the bridge they discovered that the construction of the bridge was only half complete. The bridge was strong and sturdy on their side but the bridge did not even exist on the other side, so therefore the bridge was totally useless to them. Disappointed, the group turned back. The second group also found a strong sturdy bridge. As they walked out over the dangerous ravine to examine the bridge they noticed that the bridge was just as secure and sturdy on both sides. With a strong bridge well anchored and secured on both sides the group was able to safely cross the dangerous ravine and safely make it to their destination. Jesus is our safe and secure bridge; He is bridging the deep ravine that exists between God and mankind. This requires that Jesus be strongly anchored as God and that
Jesus also be strongly anchored as a human.

Some groups would like to remove the Deity from Jesus and other groups would like to remove the humanity from Jesus and in doing this they are removing the bridge that exists between God and man.

First Use:Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man (body) of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul (soul).

Soul is the cognitive, self-awareness, which we as people have; the ability to know that we exist as a living breathing individual entity. We also have the awareness of life and death. The human soul is immensely complicated. We are intricate, complex beings and the only sure way to manage our complex resources of emotions, thoughts and desires is to give them to and to interact with, the one who created us with these capabilities and that is God.

Any psychological counseling that does not recognize the spiritual nature of humans or the sinful nature of humans cannot help us as humans overcome any emotional difficulties we might have. Much of what we do stems from our spiritual nature and our relationship with God. This is why as Christians we don't exclusively focus on our faults. If anger, jealousy, selfishness etc. are a problem, we don't focus on the problem, we focus on Jesus. We replace our desires with the Spiritual desires of Jesus. By looking to Jesus we ourselves become healed.

The soul in the Bible is also often referred to as the heart. When we read about the heart of man, we can use the word soul interchangeably with heart. For instance the Bible referrers to a fat or greasy heart. This is a way of conveying that our souls can become clogged just like our physical heart. Biblically fat and grease represent worry and from worry fear. In the sacrifices the priest was to burn all of the fat (give it all to God). The people are not allowed to eat the fat representing that God requires us to give Him our worries and fears. When we do this we are actually giving a pleasing sacrifice to God. What a wonderful God that doesn't want his children to worry, but instead to talk to Him and to trust Him.

Spirit

Spirit life is Eternal life

Pneuma (G4151) air, breath, spirit, indestructible spirit life, everlasting spirit life
Hebrew: Ruwach (H7303) breath, life, spirit
Verses - Genesis 41:8,38; Ecclesiastes 3:21; Joel 2:28,29; Romans 1:9, 8:11; 1 Peter 1:11; Revelation 11:11
First Use:Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And the LORD said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. [This was probably 120 years before the flood of Noah.] ~ Genesis 6:3

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. ~ Job 32:8

Where our soul is our self-awareness, our spirit is our awareness of God

The spirit and soul are not the same thing yet they interact closely.

For the word of God is quick (alive) and powerful (energy) and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~ Hebrews 4:12

The Bible refers to the relationship between spirit and soul as being like the relationship between the marrow of the bone and joints that hold the bones together. And like the difference between thoughts and intents. Science cannot tell the point where marrow stops being marrow and starts to become bone because the change from marrow to bone is so gradual and interwoven. Nor can scientist tell where bone starts to become joints, ligaments and tendons, because the change is also interwoven and gradual. ~ Hebrews 4:12

The Bible does refer to separating the spirit from the soul; this requires that they are not the same item. If they were the same in substance the Bible would probably refer to cleaving (chopping). The Soul is often mentioned encompassing spirit and the spirit is often mentioned encompassing soul so the relationship is close and interwoven yet the two are each unique.

Spirit refers to spirit existence; the Bible uses the same word to refer to the Holy Spirit that it uses to refer to human spirits and the same word for angelic spirits and even demonic, unclean spirits.

The spiritual realm is the true permanent realm:

The physical realm, what we see, touch, taste, smell, feel hear with our physical bodies is the temporary realm.

God has created the physical realm to convey Biblical Spiritual truth to us. There is the existence of physical light and darkness representing the Spiritual concept of division and judgment, separating light from dark and light shining into darkness to dispel darkness. Fire, water, breath are all physical elements to represent Spiritual truths, water is cleansing and refreshing, fire is light and through
heat judgment, judging between what will last and what will burn.

Breath is required for life; humans have only one breath of life in our possession at any one time. We are always one breath away from physical life and physical death. Likewise, a non-believer is only one breath away from repentance and Spiritual life from spiritual death at any one moment.

The battle that the Christian faces is a spiritual battle. Satan is a spirit being. It is said that Jesus is on the inside of us trying to be exposed to the outside world while Satan is on the outside of us trying to get inside and direct or possess us. Satan cannot overpower the human spirit so Satan's main tool to control and possess humans is by deception and tricks. Satan tricks humans into thinking what they are doing is right, yet all along it is wrong. It is any con artist's biggest con to so completely fool the victim that they never become aware that they were deceived and therefore never putting the con artist in any danger.

The spirit realm is the important realm. We as Christians have to acknowledge the existence of the spirit realm, good and evil and to react appropriately.

But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:23-24

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ~ 2 Peter 3:10-14

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth (test) the hearts and reigns (our determination). ~ Psalms 7:9

God is testing the hearts and the determination of man to determine if man desires and is determined to follow God or to do evil.

Temptation is one of the more interesting aspects for us, being that we are freewill moral agents living in a society with both good and evil influences. As we navigate through life's options and challenges we routinely encounter temptations both to do good and to do evil. A temptation is an external circumstance we encounter that gives us the opportunity to either do good or to do something else. For instance when we see or hear of someone in need we often are tempted to do more for them than is already being done. We are being tempted to do good. A good temptation test would be when God is encouraging us to do the things that He is involved in like helping, giving, mercy, peace and everything that is consistent and compatible with God. We can easily fail these tests by neglecting to do good when goodness is called for.

Let no man say when he is tempted (tested) I am tempted of God [for evil]: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man [for evil]: ~ James 1:13-14

Like good temptations there are also bad temptations (tests). Bad temptations however are not from God they originate instead from ourselves, others, or Satan and his demons. Where a good temptation is to build others and us up bringing us closer to the love of God. A bad temptation is to distance and separate us from God. Satan uses bad temptations in an attempt to distance us from God. Satan also uses them in an attempt to disgrace God. We are created in God's image, we are also God's children. It is a disgrace when instead of living a holy life resembling the characteristics of God our Heavenly Father, we instead act like the devil. Fortunately God is pure holy and undefiled and it is not even possible to disgrace Him. Even more fortunately God has taken the disgrace that we clothe ourselves with and He has wrapped us in His clean garments of righteousness.

There hath no temptation (test) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13

Jesus, while He was here on earth to do the Father's will, was continually being tempted by Satan. We can learn many things by how Jesus successfully handled His being tempted. For one thing it is not a sin to be tempted, Jesus was tempted yet He was without sin. Sin comes from how we react to the temptation. The Bible actually tells us that it is not possible for Jesus to fall to temptation and sin. We might think that if it wasn't possible for Jesus to sin then He wasn't really tempted, but remember, tempted means a test it does not mean a desire. Jesus had no desire to sin yet He was still tested.

There are several factors that led to Jesus successfully dealing with temptation by making it no temptation at all and as a result glorifying the Father. Jesus always recognized the truth of the Father. Jesus was not about to trade the truth of the Father for a lie of the devil. Jesus sees sin for what it is, sin is death and sin in its true state of death is not attractive. Jesus kept an eternal focus. Jesus did not get lost in the moment or have any momentary lapses. He kept an eternal heavenly focus, keeping focused on the Father, on the truth of the Bible and trusting in the Father's ability He committed Himself to the Father and kept Himself from falling to temptations.

Theology

Theology is Logic, Reason and Understanding as applied to our revealed knowledge of God

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, [so we can know God] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Theology is the study of God. It is not enough to study God. It is required that we accurately and correctly study God. If we studied President Abraham Lincoln and said he sure was an accomplished violinist, no one ever looked better in a straw hat and those cigarettes he constantly smoked. We would not know Abraham Lincoln because we did not study Abraham Lincoln. To get to know God we have to correctly study God.

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15

It isn't fair to someone to misrepresent others. Sometimes we have a teacher, an employer or someone who has totally misrepresented our abilities and who we are. We don't appreciate it. God has asked us to take the time to get to know Him, who He is. If at the end of our physical life we enter into heaven, look around and say, “Who are you? What is this place?” It could be that we should have spent a little more quality time getting to know God and His kingdom.

Tithe

Tithe - 10% given to Old Testament Israel for the Temple Religion and State Government

First Use:Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most High God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he (Abraham) gave Him (Melchizedek) tithes of all.

And all the tithe of the land. Whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD”S: it is holy unto the LORD. ~ Leviticus 27:30

Tithe means to give a tenth, in this case to give to God. Tithing is not really giving to God. It is returning to God. Every good and wonderful thing we have comes from God and belongs to God. The tithe is acknowledging that what we have comes from God and belongs to God.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, … For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ~ Matthew 6:19-21

The tithe is an acknowledgement of a relationship with God. When we are not tithing we are leaving God out of our relationship. We cannot buy God or buy favor from God, but we can acknowledge that what we have comes from God and that God and God alone meets our needs.

The word tithe is not mentioned in the New Testament letters to the Churches. Tithing is referred to as a contribution. The tithe is the strict 10% dictated by the law. The Church is not regulated by the Old Testament laws; the Church is regulated by grace (individuality). The amount that a Christian desires to give back to God is up to the individual Christian. The Church is not held to the 10%, the individual can give back 1% or 100% it depends on the individual. Surveys and studies based on local income levels show that the average of contributions given to Churches is right around 3%. More important than the amount contributed is that the contribution be a “First fruit”. To have a correct relationship with God, man needs to put God First; this is demonstrated by contributing First to God and then taking care of worldly necessities.

Total Depravity

Total Depravity - Unsaved, “Totally” Spiritually Separated from God - unable to save ourselves (make ourselves Born Again) but completely able to choose for ourselves via our conscience our freewill and our human spirt to be in a relationship/fellowship with God and therefore becoming from God [Holy Spirit] Born Again.

Depravity means without morality, without goodness i.e. seperated from God's plan. Total depravity is a term used to indicate the unredeemed position of man, man without God. Total depravity indicates that mankind, we within ourselves, are not capable of doing anything good, pure, clean, holy, or unselfishly. Can depraved people please a Holy God by doing things to please Him and by pleasing God gain access to Him? According to the Bible the answer is, no. Since deprived man cannot please and then approach God, it is necessary for God to First approach man. This is why God has called to us and why He came to us. God initiated a relationship with us because it is only acceptable to God for us to take part in what He is doing. Anything that we do apart from God is unacceptable to God. Nowhere is the adage truer than the saying “It doesn't matter what you do or what you know, it only matters who you know”. God has called us to a relationship with Himself. We are to abide in Him and He will abide in us in a relationship. Anything we might try to do to gain God's acceptance separate from God is actually depravity to God.

But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; This verse is saying that the best that we can do on our own is filthiness before God. Isn't it interesting that our own kindest moment, our greatest compassion, our tenderness, our mercy, our most generous giving, is looked upon by God as filthy trash. God has told us that to please Him we are to believe in Jesus. Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. ~ Isaiah 64:6

Some people take the view that since mankind is in a fallen condition why not live up to the sinful condition of mankind and live like a depraved sinner. First sin, all sin is death not life, there is no living in sin. Sin is separation (death) from God. Anyone who thinks the sin of this world has more to offer than a relationship with God doesn't know God.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. ~ John 15:5

Tribulation

First Use:Deuteronomy 4:30-31 When thou art in tribulation and all these things are upon thee, even in later days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice; For the LORD thy God is a merciful God; he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he swore to them.

These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you (disciples), that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

Tribulation is trouble, distress, anguish, persecution, grief and everything else that is associated with adversity. The world has rejected and is opposed to Jesus; therefore it is only natural for the world to be opposed to the followers of Jesus. This Satanic opposition is our tribulation. The hallmark of a Christian is to suffer tribulation.

And I said unto him, Sir thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation … ~ Revelation 7:14

Because thou (Church) hast kept the word of My patience, I (Jesus) also will keep thee from the hour (time period) of temptation [tribulation] which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. ~ Revelation 3:10

Currently the tribulation that we suffer is from the world, from sin and from Satan, we do not suffer tribulation from God. There is a time coming called the “great tribulation” where the world is going to suffer tribulation from the wrath of God. Some people have rejected the love of God and in rejecting God they have chosen to worship false gods. In the coming 3 1/2 year time period, God is going to destroy the false gods that people are worshiping. As the false gods are being destroyed, the whole earth will be suffering a great tribulation and some people will turn and worship the true God of the Bible. This time of great tribulation is both the wrath of God and the continuing wrath of Satan. This will be the worst time to ever live on earth. The Church does not worship false gods and has been promised by God, not go through this terrible time. Jesus is going to remove the Church prior to God's tribulation judgment of the world.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him… Therefore rejoice, ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. ~ Revelation 12:7-9,12

TriUnity

TriUnity the Three in One God

Tri - three; Unity - oneness; three in one

Triunity is a word used in an attempt to explain the nature of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Each person: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, is an individual, yet each one is the one and only God. The Bible referrers to each one of them as God and as individuals. The Bible also refers to them collectively as the one and only true God. How can God be three separate persons and yet be only one God? The answer to this human dilemma of ours exists in the nature of God. God is Spirit. Physical man does not yet comprehend the Spirit realm and until we enter the Spirit realm of God when we pass on from our physical body and receive a spiritual body we will never comprehend fully the three in one nature of God.

Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ~ Galatians 3:20

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: … ~ James 2:19

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen. ~ Jude ver. 25

The Triunity concept of God is completely supported in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The very First opening verse of the Bible instructs us that God is plural in existence. The Hebrew word used for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohiem (H430). El is one of the Hebrew descriptive names of God. El is used in many Hebrew names Daniel (judged of God, Dani-el); Michael (who is like God, Micha-el) even in city names Beth - El (house of God, Beth-El). The “ohiem” ending in Elohiem is a plural ending. It is like adding an “s” to the end of a word in English. The First mention of God in the First verse of the Bible is instructing us that God is plural in existence.

Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. ~ Deuteronomy 6:4

The Hebrew word for one in this verse is Echad (H259). Ehcad means one, like one in unity, or one group. There is a different Hebrew word used for single, or one and only one, exclusively one. The Hebrew word Yachiyd (H3173) has the meaning of single, or only one, exclusive one. Genesis 22:2 And He (God) said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac,. The word used for only is Yachiyd. Isaac is not the only child of Abraham, but Isaac is the only exclusive son of Abraham to receive the inheritance of the promise land. The Bible is consistent in reference to the plural Father, Son and Holy Spirit, of triune God.

Each of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are individually given Biblical credit for eternal existence, being Holy, creating creation, our redemption, being sinned against by man, forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of Jesus and many, many more attributes that can only be attributed to God.

Truth

Truth is the Unchangeable Fact

Greek Aletheia (G225) Truth, true that which exists and cannot change
Verses - Exodus 18:21; Psalms 25:5; Proverbs 12:19; Matthew 22:16; John 1:14-17 3:21 4:23-24 8:32 14:6 17:17; Revelation 3:7
First Use:Genesis 24:27 And he (Abraham's servant) said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my masters brethren.

For I am the LORD, I change not; ~ Malachi 3:6

Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the Words (Truth) of eternal life. ~ John 6:68

Truth is that which exists and cannot change. The truth is the unchangeable fact. There are basic truths in existence. We exist in physical human form on a planet called the earth. It is an undeniable unchangeable truth that we exist. It is also an undeniable unchangeable truth that physical life exists temporally here on earth. The truth is that all who have lived in the past have suffered physical death; they are no longer physically alive with us on earth. Since there are truths in existence there is a truth that explains life and death here on earth.

There can be many theories about how life originated on earth, why and how we exist and why we die, but there is only one unchangeable truth.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word (Bible), then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. ~ John 8:31-32

Evolution is a fantasy about how life came into existence:

Evolution claims that everything that exists now came from nothing. But the truth is if you have nothing, you have nothing and nothing will come from nothing. Evolution claims that change in circumstances makes for changes in life.

Oops, First they say that life came from non-life; the truth is if you have no life then there is no life and no life will come from it. They then say that life once it sprang into existence can now change and adapt. First it took millions of years for life to adapt and for humans to figure out to grow thumbs. Now evolutionist say it actually took billions and billions of years for life to spring and for our thumbs to grow. Oops, now evolutionists say that it might have taken millions or billions of years they don't know but they think they are sure that we got our thumbs from space aliens. Space
aliens who themselves sprang into existence from nothing. As long as the explanations and stories change they are not the truth. The truth is we are here and we do exist and only one truth will explain the truth of our existence.

The Bible is the truth. The Bible hasn't changed. The Bible explains creation, life, death, past, present, future. The Bible is complete and unchangeable. The Bible is the truth that matches with the truth of human existence and human death.

Universalism is a term used for a school of thought that unchangeable truth does not exist so we can just make up our own truth and that is truth. Someone says I think we evolved from monkeys and that is their truth, another says I think we evolved from space aliens and that also becomes truth and neither is wrong they are entitled to their own set of truths. The only unacceptable truth to the Universalist is that God exists because if God exists then He is the one unchangeable truth, so man has rejected God in order to accept their own version of truth. Man's version of truth cannot solve the mystery of existence nor can it solve the problem of death.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. ~ John 14:6

Unpardonable Sin

Unpardonable Sin (unbelief)

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. _There is a sin unto death_: I do not say that he should pray for it. ~ 1 John 5:16

Unpardonable sin or sin unto death (separation from God) is the sin of not acknowledging God as God. God has given each person the spiritual freedom to acknowledge God and God has also given each person the spiritual freedom not to acknowledge Him. We are instructed not to pray for sin unto death. If God were to over-ride the human choice then it wouldn't be a choice. This doesn't mean that God is sitting back hoping people will acknowledge Him. God is actively busy wooing, courting and calling us into a relationship with Him. God is also actively arranging the circumstances of our life to bring us into a relationship with Him and once we are in a relationship, to bring us into a closer relationship with Him.

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

We are instructed not to pray for God to overlook unbelief. If God saved people who didn't believe, then the cross of Jesus would not be necessary, for redemption. The Bible tells us that there are several reasons for unbelief. One is that Satan has blinded the mind of the person in unbelief. The Bible does tell us to pray to bind the works of Satan, so we pray that people will acknowledge God and we can also pray that Satan will be kept away (bound) from interfering in the decisions and choices of the individual, that the individual will be unhindered by Satan and allowed to freely acknowledge Jesus.

We do not pray for God to go against His nature or to overlook sin apart from the cross of Jesus Christ.

First Use:Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her and she went down to the well and filled her picture and came up.

Virgin means a woman prior to any sexual relationship. The virgin birth of Jesus means that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, while she remained a virgin. Mary had not had a sexual relationship with a man and Mary did not have a sexual relationship with God. To have a sexual relationship is to no longer be a virgin. It is not possible to become pregnant without a sexual encounter so by definition no virgin can have a baby. Mary is the Virgin that did have a baby because she was the chosen vessel of God to be the instrument to bring Jesus into the world in the image of a man. God became a human and came into the world like a human through childbirth with Mary as His physical mother.

And the Angel [Spirit being] said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the Throne [Millennial Reign in Israel] of His father (ancestor) [King] David: And He shall reign over the House of Jacob [Israel] forever [Eternal God]; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the Angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. ~ Luke 1:30-35

The prophet Isaiah uses the Hebrew word “Alma” maiden, which is a young woman. Like most prophecy in the Bible it has a double meaning. The current meaning to apply to the current events. Enabling the prophet to be established and that the prophecy could be shown to be true or false. From the same prophecy arises a future event that is also in the direct control of God. The prophet Isaiah tells a prophecy to the house of David that in the near future a young Jewish maiden would give birth in the land of Judah to a child, meaning that Israel's current enemy would not wipe out the Jews from off the land and that prophecy came to pass. The word Alma or maiden in the normal meaning would mean a virgin. The prophet used the word maiden instead of using the word wife to bear a child. That the prophet said a maiden will bear a child, shows the intent of the prophecy is for a Jewish virgin to give birth in the land of Israel. The future prophecy from the same prophecy is about Mary and the Virgin birth of Jesus.

400 years before the virgin birth of Jesus the Old Testament written in Hebrew was translated into Greek called the Septuagint. In the Hebrew the word Alma is used meaning young maiden, but in the Greek the translators knowing that the current version of the prophecy had been fulfilled now focused on the future event and instead of using maiden translated Alma as Virgin. In the Greek version of the Old Testament we get a rock solid no compromise prophecy that a Jewish virgin would give birth in the land of Israel. This is the Divine Virgin birth of Jesus foretold in the Bible coinciding with the First mentioned of a virgin birth in Genesis 3:15 “the seed of the woman”.

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: ~ 1 Timothy 1:18-19

Warfare is to engage the opposition in a life and death struggle. Warfare is used in the Bible to illustrate the life and death nature of the struggle. There are many struggles people face, many of which involve Spiritual life and death.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Warfare: Believer

Our own old sin nature, referred to as flesh, wars against our new Spirit nature. This is a condition that is unique to the Spirit filled Christian believer. Only a Born Again Christian has this inner conflict and warfare. We want to do what is right and pleasing to God, yet we still at times do the wrong thing. This is the warfare of the Christian desiring to please God, yet engaging in a conflict within ourselves between right and wrong. Occasionally we do what is wrong but we are always concerned about our actions between right and wrong. This warfare does not cease until we physically die and are no longer in a physical sinful body.

From whence (where) come wars and fighting among you? Come they not hence (from), even of your lusts that war in your members. ~ James 4:1

Warfare: Non-Believer

The worldly non-Christian person also has desires that they would like fulfilled but they are carnal desires and not Godly desires. For instance the unbelieving person has a strong desire for a certain food or certain music. As soon as the food or music is sought out their warfare has ended. However, their desires are only momentarily fulfilled. Jesus said anyone who drinks from the worldly well will thirst again. Warfare to a Non-Believe is self-gratification. Their desire is to meet their own needs First and therefore they do not have the warfare of a Christian who truly, Spiritually desires to deny self and live for God.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ~ 1 Peter 2:11

Warfare: Spiritual

True warfare is spiritual. Humans have spiritual opposition from spirit powers that want to keep us from a relationship with God. Warfare also manifests in the physical realm, but it is primarily a spiritual existence. If we dislike someone and physically argue with them, it is because we spiritually dislike that person. It is a spiritual condition that is manifesting in a physical argument. Therefore, the remedy to warfare is Spiritual. God oversees the spirit realm and we are to conduct our lives according to God's Spiritual principals of prayer, Bible devotions, Christian fellowship and Christian service.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood [humans], but against principalities [demonic spirits], against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. ~ Ephesians 6:10-12

First Use:Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. {While living in the flesh everyone has the opportunity to repent, but once physical death, then comes eternal judgment and God will not allow a witch to remain and live in His presence.}

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. ~ 1 Samuel 15:23

All that hate me whisper together against me: against me they do devise my hurt. ~ Psalms 41:7

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air (evil demonic spirit) shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the
matter. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:20

Now the works of the flesh are manifest (revealed), which are these; Adultery (unfaithfulness), fornication (uncovered), uncleanness (unmoral), lasciviousness (in contentment), idolatry (worldly desires), witchcraft (manipulation), hatred (hostility), variance (quarrel), emulations (jealousy), wrath (anger), strife (factions), seditions (disunion), heresies (unbiblical principals), envyings (ill-will), murders (ending life), drunkenness (worldly influences), revellings (letting loose) and such like: of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ~ Galatians 5:20-21

Witchcraft is the practice and art of manipulation. This is carried out as people try in selfishness to get their way, to fulfill their various desires and whims. Witchcraft is the opposite of grace. Grace is giving someone the freedom to be themselves. witchcraft is the art of using manipulations, threats, situations, even rewards and promises as a means for manipulation, therefore placing someone in bondage and slavery to accomplish the certain desires of the manipulator. Witchcraft is a type of a spoken curse. An oath is a spoken commitment to perform a good deed, a curse is a spoken commitment to do evil and harm.

This does not preclude conversation, debate, discussion… it means to let other people have their own convictions, don't insist on changing peoples minds.

Worship

Worship is to Acknowledge where Life comes from

Proskuneo (G4352) Pros - towards, Koun - kiss lit. Like dog licking a masters hand, reverence, adore, Worship.
Hebrew: Shachah (H7812) depress, bow down, prostrate
Verses - Exodus 34:14; Psalms 95:6; Deuteronomy 8:19; John 14:23; Philippians 3:3; Revelation 19:10 22:9First OT Use:Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the donkey; and I and the lad (Isaac) will go yonder and worship and come to you again.First NT Use:Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him.

The word worship is a reverence for the one who has given us life and created us. Worship means acknowledging where life comes from. To worship the sun is to say that the sun is responsible for creating and sustaining life. other people worship ancestors, science, evolution, thinking that this has caused and sustained their existence.

Abraham was on his way to take Isaac up to Mt. Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice {acting out prophetically, the crucifixion of Jesus; a Father giving his beloved only son} when Abraham told the young men that he and the lad (Isaac) would be back. Abraham was acknowledging (worshiping) that God was going to give life to and sustain Isaac. Isaac was the only child between Abraham and Sarah making Isaac the child of promise. God had promised multitudes of descendants from Isaac and also that Jesus the redeemer would eventually come from the lineage of Isaac. Both of these promises from God could only be fulfilled by Isaac remaining physically alive and having a child.

God does not allow us to worship anything other than God, because only God created and sustains life. For this reason we do not worship Satan or angels or anything else. Satan did not create us in fact he comes to kill, steal and destroy. To worship anything other than God is to be misinformed and deceived.

Wrath

First Use:Genesis 39:19 And it came to pass, when his (Joseph's) master (Potiphar) heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, After this manner {she was falsely accusing Joseph
of attempted rape} did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled,

Wrath is a culmination of desires. It is God's desire to give life in His Son Jesus. It is also God's wrath (desire) to avenge the wrong and sin that is committed on earth.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ~ Galatians 6:7

God is obligated to punish wrongdoing. Jesus took the punishment for our wrongdoing. Those without Jesus have gone unpunished and in order for God to judge righteously it is necessary for Him to judge between right and wrong and to then punish wrong.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. ~ John 3:36

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; ~ Romans 1:18

For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivers us (Church) from the wrath to come. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

For God hath not appointed us (Church) to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as you do. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

Verses - Genesis 3:9; Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalms 35:27 146:1; Proverbs 1:7; Isaiah 53:6-10; Jeremiah 29:11
First Use:Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Yahweh is the name that God calls Himself, revealing that God is Self-Existing, that God relies on no one else and nothing else to exist, also revealing that God is eternal, He has always existed and will always continue to exist. God uses the names He allows us to call Him to reveal Himself to us. The First name mentioned for God in the Bible is Elohiem. El meaning God and Ohiem being a plural ending, confirming the plurality of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit; the triune (3 in 1) God. Later God refers to Himself as Adonai, also translated Lord, revealing that God is the owner of the universe. God continues and reveals Himself in the name of ElShadi - meaning provider. Shadi actually means breast and El meaning God. God is revealing that He has everything necessary to sustain our lives.

Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain [empty - meaningless]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain. ~ Exodus 20:7

God gave us Ten Commandments [commandments not suggestions] to follow. To not take God's name in vain is the third of God's ten commandments. Vanity means emptiness, in Hebrew it actually means “soap bubble” as a soap bubble is empty and temporary. No one builds a house on a soap bubble. A soap bubble is vanity. We make God, to be vanity to ourselves, when we do not give substance to His name.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven Holy be Thy Name. [referring to all the Names that God reveals Himself to us] ~ Matthew 6:9

He (Jesus) saith unto them (disciples), but whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. ~ Matthew 16:15-16

It is important that we accurately say who God is.

The names of God are various aspects that we can know about God. We can know God as our provider, our creator, our comforter, our Savior, our leader, our Holy God.

The more we know about God the more we know Him.

For instance, for a long time I knew that God exists yet I always thought that God existed far away. I thought Heaven was some vague place far away. I would look out at the distant horizon and think, “I'll bet God is out there” but I couldn't comprehend a God that would be close to me. Then one day while reading the Bible I read Romans 10:6-8.

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into Heaven? That is to bring Christ down from above: Or, who shall descend into the deep? That is to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is the Word of Faith, which we preach. ~ Romans 10:6-8

We can know God as our creator, as our redeemer; yet fail to know Him as our constant companion, as our leader, our friend and our healer and yet that my friend is our supreme joy as people to get to know Jesus the wonderful God the provider of Eternal life!

A Summary

A Summary of Biblical Events

God exists eternally (always has and always will) --> God creates everlasting (will always exist once created) spirit beings called angels --> approximately 1/3 of the angels follow the rebellion of Satan and sin and rebel against God - while 2/3 of angels remain holy with God --> God creates an environment; universe, earth, for a new creation of God --> God creates mankind for fellowship in His image; the ability to love, relate, think, reason, have emotions --> God has a personal relationship with His created mankind --> Mankind disobeys God and sins in part through the deception of Satan --> Mankind now has a sin (unclean) nature and is separated from the Holy God --> God declares that He will reunite (Redeem) His creation back to Himself in the seed of the woman (virgin birth of Jesus) --> God chooses Abraham to be the eventual lineage of the "Seed of the Woman" and through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - God will use the Jews as a chosen people to interact with and to reveal Himself too --> being separated from man, God begins to reveal Himself to man, through prophets and priests who record God's revelations, until the current Bible exists in its 66 books by about 40 authors --> In the fullness of time God sent His Son, Jesus born of a woman to pay in full (propitiation) all the sins of the world --> that whoever will call upon the name of Jesus will live and not die (separate from God) --> God calls all mankind to respond to Him and receive redemption and reconciliation --> Holy Spirit convinces us of God and convicts us of our sinful nature, He encourages us to obey God's calling --> we respond to God's love, Confess our sinful nature --> Accept that God loves us and that in Jesus He died for our sins and in Jesus we live a Resurrected Spirit life --> Through faith we are forgiven and Cleansed of our sin --> Reconciled to God --> Become Born Again (born from above), Children of God, by receiving God the Holy Spirit to unite with our own existing human spirit --> Receiving His Spirit as a seal until the sanctification process is completed, "the Firstfruit", giving of the Holy Spirit to us --> After redemption we are then Predestined to Adoption to become sons of God and receive an inheritance with God --> During our physical lifetime we go through a lifelong Sanctification process --> During the sanctification process we receive empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be a witness of God --> When we physically die and our spirit soul separate from our physical body of sin and death we go directly into the presence of God --> We have become holy redeemed sanctified --> The nonbeliever who has remained unclean departs the presence of Holy God and is sent into Hell and out of the recognizable presence of God --> The believing child cleansed of sin and reconciled to God is welcomed into Heaven (where God's authority reign and rule are recognized) --> lifelong deeds are tried in the fires of judgment, deeds with no eternal significance are burned and consumed to no longer be available while that which has everlasting significance comes through the fires as Rewards to last forever --> after physical death the believer is now adopted as a Son of God --> receiving a new unique individual Spiritual body and becoming a Son of God --> the adopted person now a Son receives a son's inheritance, their place in the kingdom of God --> the saint is Glorified to live forever in the visible presence of God (Heaven).

Bible Quotes

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth my ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned my back. ~ Isaiah 50:4-5

Thus saith the LORD, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8